ACUTE GLOMERULONEPHRITIS ASSOCIATED WITH ACUTE Q-FEVER - CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE RENAL COMPLICATIONS OF COXIELLA-BURNETII INFECTION

We report a case of acute glomerulonephritis associated with acute Q f ever. An abattoir worker with a nonspecific febrile illness and pneumo nia and abnormal liver function test results developed hematuria, prot einuria, and acute renal failure that resolved with appropriate antimi crobial therapy. Renal biopsy demonstrated diffuse proliferative and e xudative glomerulonephritis. Serological tests confirmed recent infect ion with Coxiella burnetii, with a fourfold rise in the titer of phase II antibody, positive phase II IgM antibody, and negative phase I ant ibody. Other known causes of glomerulonephritis were excluded. Most re ports of renal complications of C. burnetii infection describe glomeru lonephritis associated with endocarditis due to chronic Q fever. Renal involvement in patients with acute C. burnetii infection has been rar ely described. Glomerulonephritis should be recognized as a complicati on of acute C. burnetii infection and endocarditis due to chronic Q fe ver.