Kularathna MDSV, Kularatne SAM, Pathirage M, Nanayakkara PTMA. Severe leptospirosis complicated with multiorgan dysfunction successfully managed with plasma exchange: a case report.
J Med Case Rep 2021;
15:584. [PMID:
34903283 PMCID:
PMC8667368 DOI:
10.1186/s13256-021-03135-3]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Leptospirosis is a common zoonotic infection caused by the spirochete Leptospira. The disease is more prevalent in the tropics, causing subclinical to severe illness leading to high morbidity and mortality.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 77-year-old healthy Sri Lankan man presented to the Teaching Hospital Peradeniya with severe leptospirosis complicated with acute kidney injury, pulmonary hemorrhages, myocarditis, and severe thrombocytopenia. He was deteriorating despite treatment with intravenous antibiotics and methylprednisolone boluses. He made a dramatic improvement with two cycles of plasma exchange.
CONCLUSION
Therapeutic plasma exchange is a life-saving treatment modality in severe leptospirosis with multiorgan failure.
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