Val. Demedrano et al., LIVER INVOLVEMENT IN Q-FEVER AND MEDITERR ANEAN BOUTONNEUSE FEVER - COMPARATIVE-STUDY, Revista espanola de enfermedades digestivas, 86(6), 1994, pp. 891-893
Rickettsia spp. infections produce hepatic damage with transaminases e
levation and biological signs of cholostasis. Classical biochemical te
sts of hepatic function were analyzed and compared in 8 patients with
Q Fever (QF) and 7 with Boutonneuse Mediterranean Fever (BMF).Liver en
largement was detected in 75% of the QF group of patients as compared
with the 57% of the BMF group. Transaminases were raised in 75% of the
patients of the QF group and in 85,7% of the BMF patients. Only one p
atient in the QF group showed manifest clinical jaundice. Statisticall
y significant differences were found between the values of AST, ALT, a
lkaline phosphatase and GGT, which were higher in the QF group. Liver
involvement is more important in patients with QF than in FBM. There i
s a large percentage of clinically silent involvement in both diseases
. Liver function tests should be carried out in infections by Ricketts
ia spp.