Liver granulomatosis: A case of Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection

An 18-year-old man was referred to the Internal Medicine ward because of a 2-week history of intermittent high fever, weight loss and cough. Clinical examination revealed hepato-splenomegaly and multiple lymph nodes swelling while laboratory tests showed elevated C-reactive protein, gamma glutamyl transferase and lactate dehydrogenase. All serologic testes for auto-immune antibodies, viruses and bacteria were negative except for Chlamydophila pneumoniae. An 18-FDG PET computed tomography scanner showed hypermetabolism in the liver, spleen and lymph nodes. We therefore conducted a liver biopsy that demonstrated non-necrotizing granulomas. We conclude to a C. pneumoniae infection associated with a granulomatous hepatitis. After treatment with Doxyciclin the patient had no more fever, hepatosplenomegaly resolved and blood testes normalized. This case report is to our knowledge the first report of a granulomatous hepatitis associated with C. pneumoniae respiratory infection.