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Toxocara canis infection: Unusual trigger of systemic lupus erythematosus
Author(s) -
Levy Michaël,
Bourrat Emmanuelle,
Baudouin Véronique,
Guillem Colette,
Peuchmaur Michel,
Deschênes Georges,
Fila Marc
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
pediatrics international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.49
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1442-200X
pISSN - 1328-8067
DOI - 10.1111/ped.12646
Subject(s) - medicine , toxocara canis , immunology , systemic lupus erythematosus , toxocara cati , dermatology , helminths , pathology , disease
Abstract Infection by Toxocara canis can cause systemic vasculitis. We report here a unique case of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) triggered by T . canis infection. An 8‐year‐old girl was treated with albendazole therapy for common toxocariasis, but she developed two weeks later, asthenia, fever, infiltrated maculopapular eruption of the face, peripheral vascular disease with necrosis of the fingers and inflammatory anemia with proteinuria. Anti‐nuclear, anti‐DNA and anti‐Sm antibodies positivity, together with minimal change nephritis with mesangial exclusive IgM deposit on renal biopsy and clinical relapse after initially successful steroid therapy, led to the diagnosis of SLE. T . canis infection can trigger systemic lupus but must also be ruled out of the differential diagnosis given its association with autoimmunity.