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Brucellosis as a rare cause of granulomatous hepatitis with hepatic and bone marrow granulomas: A case report
1Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Dicle University School of Medicine, Diyarbakir, Turkey
2Department of Gastroenterology, Manisa City Hospital, Manisa, Turkey
3Department of Gastroenterology, Dicle Memorial Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey
Hepatology Forum 2021; 2(3): 137-140 DOI: 10.14744/hf.2021.2021.0038 PMCID: PMC9138939
Full Text PDF (Turkish)

Abstract

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection that may involve the liver in a variety of ways, however, data on the histopathology of liver effects in brucellosis are limited. Brucellosis is generally characterized by a high fever, joint or back pain, and hepatosplenomegaly. This report illustrates a case of granulomatous hepatitis with granulomas in the liver and bone marrow in a patient who presented with non-specific symptoms, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, digital clubbing, and laboratory signs of intrahepatic cholestasis. Granulomas were detected in the bone marrow and hepatic specimens. The diagnosis of brucellosis was based on the isolation of Brucella mellitensis in a blood culture and serum agglutination titers of 1:640. Treatment for brucellosis led to improved laboratory and clinical findings. Brucellosis should be considered in regions where it is endemic in cases of an elevated transaminase level and related clinical findings. Brucellosis should also be considered in the differential diagnosis of intrahepatic cholestasis and/or granulomas in hepatic and bone marrow biopsies. This case report provides valuable histopathological features and detailed information of liver involvement in a case of brucellosis.