Last update:
12-Jun-2001

Arch Hellen Med, 17(6), November-December 2000, 612-615

SHORT COMMUNICATION

Brucella abortus infection in a patient with alcoholic hepatitis

I.S. PAPANIKOLAOU,¹ S.P. DOURAKIS,¹ V.C. PAPADIMITROPOULOS,
¹ K. PETRAKI,² S.J. HADZIYANNIS^1
1Academic Department of Medicine,
²Department of Pathology, Hippokration General Hospital, Athens, Greece

Alcoholic hepatitis is often a febrile disease and it may present with manifestations of liver failure. The diagnosis of co-existing infection is important but may be difficult, especially if the infectious agent is rare or underdiagnosed. Infection by Brucella abortus is very rare in Greece. The case is presented of a 36 year-old male with a history of alcohol abuse, who was admitted to hospital due to edema of the lower extremities which persisted for 10 days and a 3-day fever. Physical examination revealed jaundice, hepatomegaly, marked splenomegaly and ascites. Brucella abortus was isolated from blood cultures and serological tests were positive in high titers. The liver biopsy was consistent with alcoholic hepatitis. In conclusion, in a patient with alcoholic hepatitis presenting with fever and manifestations of decompensation of liver function, the differential diagnosis should include the possibility of a co-existing infection.

Key words: Alcoholic cirrhosis, Alcoholic hepatitis, Brucella abortus, Brucellosis.