Jaundice & Hepatitis

Older article, but interesting for its date (1978), the "illness resembling leptospirosis" (Lyme and Leptospirosis are both spirochetal illnesses), the location (Florida- not thought to have Lyme disease even 40 years later), the associated hepatitis/jaundice, and number of autopsies of TBD patients with jaundice.

Arch Intern Med. 1978 Feb;138(2):260-63.

Rocky Mountain spotted fever and jaundice. Two consecutive cases acquired in Florida and a review of the literature on this complication.

Ramphal R, Kluge R, Cohen V, Feldman R.

Abstract

Rocky mountain spotted fever is increasing in Florida, a state that has had few cases in the past. The typical clinical illness has been well described, but jaundice has been rarely reported.

In two patients with illnesses resembling leptospirosis, jaundice appeared on the sixth and ninth day of illness, and peak bilirubin levels were between 7 and 9 mg/100 ml.

Liver biopsy specimen from one patient showed a nonspecific hepatitis.

Hemolysis and renal dysfunction may have contributed to the production of jaundice in these patients.

Fourteen instances of jaundice were reported in 43 autopsied cases as of 1941,but since that time only rare mention of jaundice has been made.

PMID: 626553

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]