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Mononeuritis multiplex caused by Coxiella burnetii infection (Q fever)
Author(s) -
Sommer J. B.,
Schoerner C.,
Heckmann J. G.,
Neundoerfer B.,
Hilz M. J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
acta neurologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.967
H-Index - 95
eISSN - 1600-0404
pISSN - 0001-6314
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0404.2002.02054.x
Subject(s) - mononeuritis multiplex , q fever , medicine , coxiella burnetii , doxycycline , meningoencephalitis , serology , neuritis , immunology , surgery , antibiotics , virology , disease , antibody , vasculitis , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
After 1 week of flu‐like illness, a 64‐year‐old man developed rapidly progressive mononeuritis multiplex involving the right arm and both legs. Serologic studies identified Coxiella burnetii as the cause of the febrile disease (Q fever). Fourteen days doxycycline treatment (200 mg daily) induced rapid and complete recovery. After 6 months, flu‐like symptoms, weakness and hypalgesia of the right leg reappeared. Antibody titers again identified Q fever. Doxycycline was re‐established and induced prompt recovery. Q fever has been associated with various neurologic complications such as meningoencephalitis, cerebellitis, optic neuritis or polyneuroradiculitis. This is the first report on Q fever related mononeuritis multiplex. Prolonged antibiotic treatment may be required to prevent relapsing infection from the resistant bacterium.