Severe legionella pneumophila infection in a patient with hairy cell leukemia in partial remission after a interferon treatment

✍ Scribed by Franca Radaelli; Martin Langer; Ornella Chiorboli; Daniela Proietti; Luca Baldini

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 714 KB
• Volume: 9
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0278-0232
• DOI: 10.1002/hon.2900090302

✦ Synopsis

Legionella pneumonia is an increasingly frequently reported complication in immunocompromised patients, particularly patients with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) in active phase. The most important predisposing factor seems to be the quantitative and qualitative defect of the monocytic-macrophagic system characteristic of HCL. We report a case of severe L,egionelZupneumophiIu infection with multisystem involvement in a patient with HCL in stable partial remission obtained after therapy with interferon. In our patient recovery of a normal monocyte count did not protect against a legionella infection, indicating that this pathogen should always be sought in HCL patients even those in clinical and hematologic remission. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment may reduce the mortality of this serious complication.