Cerebral infarction: an unusual complication of Mediterranean spotted fever

E Botelho-Nevers; C Foucault; H Lepidi; P Brouqui

doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2005.03.008

Cerebral infarction: an unusual complication of Mediterranean spotted fever

Eur J Intern Med. 2005 Nov;16(7):525-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ejim.2005.03.008.

Authors

E Botelho-Nevers¹, C Foucault, H Lepidi, P Brouqui

Affiliation

¹ Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, Hôpital Nord, Chemin des Bourrelys, 13915 Marseille Cedex 20, France.

PMID: 16275553
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejim.2005.03.008

Abstract

Mediterranean spotted fever is a rickettsiosis caused by Rickettsia conorii and transmitted by the brown dog tick. It is considered as a benign disease but 5% to 10% of patients present with a malignant form which is the result of a diffuse vasculitis. We report here the first case of Mediterranean spotted fever with cerebral vasculitis and thrombosis leading to a massive cerebral infarct and death.