Unusual pancytopenia secondary to haemophagocytosis syndrome in rickettsioses

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2009

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Oxford University Press

Abstract

We report two patients who presented with a long-lasting febrile illness associated with pancytopenia. Both of them had evidence of hypercellular marrow with haemophagocytosis. They were confirmed as having rickettsial infections by serology and had a rapid haematological recovery with anti-rickettsial antibiotics. We highlight the importance of considering rickettsial infections in patients with such clinical presentations, especially in areas where these infections are endemic or re-emerging. Empirical use of anti-rickettsial antibiotics in such situations could be beneficial, when facilities to diagnose rickettsial diseases are not readily available.

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Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2009; 103(9): pp.961-3

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