Case Report: Visceral leishmaniasis misdiagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus in a 36-year-old migrant worker
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar, is an often-neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania donovani. It is endemic in certain regions of China, including Shanxi Province. This case report describes a 36-year-old female migrant worker who regularly travels between Shanxi Provin...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1614790/full |
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| author | Li-Ping Sheng Bo-Zhi Lin Li-Na Han Gui-Qiang Wang Gui-Qiang Wang Feng-Qin Hou Feng-Qin Hou |
| author_facet | Li-Ping Sheng Bo-Zhi Lin Li-Na Han Gui-Qiang Wang Gui-Qiang Wang Feng-Qin Hou Feng-Qin Hou |
| author_sort | Li-Ping Sheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Visceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar, is an often-neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania donovani. It is endemic in certain regions of China, including Shanxi Province. This case report describes a 36-year-old female migrant worker who regularly travels between Shanxi Province, her hometown and Zhongshan, Guangdong Province. She presented with prolonged fever, splenomegaly, pancytopenia and high title anti-nuclear antibodies. She was initially diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and associated polyclonal gammopathy. Her condition failed to improve with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Further evaluation revealed VL, confirmed by bone marrow smear and molecular testing. Treatment with liposomal amphotericin B led to prompt clinical resolution. This case highlights the importance of obtaining travel history and considering parasitic infections in patients with refractory fever and splenomegaly. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c40acefd55ab4e7ca59e59d03aa55dc3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-858X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-c40acefd55ab4e7ca59e59d03aa55dc32025-08-20T03:39:09ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-08-011210.3389/fmed.2025.16147901614790Case Report: Visceral leishmaniasis misdiagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus in a 36-year-old migrant workerLi-Ping Sheng0Bo-Zhi Lin1Li-Na Han2Gui-Qiang Wang3Gui-Qiang Wang4Feng-Qin Hou5Feng-Qin Hou6Department of Infectious Diseases and Center for Liver Diseases, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Center for Liver Diseases, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Center for Liver Diseases, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Center for Liver Diseases, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases and Center for Liver Diseases, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, ChinaVisceral leishmaniasis (VL), also known as kala-azar, is an often-neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania donovani. It is endemic in certain regions of China, including Shanxi Province. This case report describes a 36-year-old female migrant worker who regularly travels between Shanxi Province, her hometown and Zhongshan, Guangdong Province. She presented with prolonged fever, splenomegaly, pancytopenia and high title anti-nuclear antibodies. She was initially diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and associated polyclonal gammopathy. Her condition failed to improve with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Further evaluation revealed VL, confirmed by bone marrow smear and molecular testing. Treatment with liposomal amphotericin B led to prompt clinical resolution. This case highlights the importance of obtaining travel history and considering parasitic infections in patients with refractory fever and splenomegaly.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1614790/fullvisceral leishmaniasissystemic lupus erythematosusliposomal amphotericin Bbone marrowdiagnosis |
| spellingShingle | Li-Ping Sheng Bo-Zhi Lin Li-Na Han Gui-Qiang Wang Gui-Qiang Wang Feng-Qin Hou Feng-Qin Hou Case Report: Visceral leishmaniasis misdiagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus in a 36-year-old migrant worker Frontiers in Medicine visceral leishmaniasis systemic lupus erythematosus liposomal amphotericin B bone marrow diagnosis |
| title | Case Report: Visceral leishmaniasis misdiagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus in a 36-year-old migrant worker |
| title_full | Case Report: Visceral leishmaniasis misdiagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus in a 36-year-old migrant worker |
| title_fullStr | Case Report: Visceral leishmaniasis misdiagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus in a 36-year-old migrant worker |
| title_full_unstemmed | Case Report: Visceral leishmaniasis misdiagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus in a 36-year-old migrant worker |
| title_short | Case Report: Visceral leishmaniasis misdiagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus in a 36-year-old migrant worker |
| title_sort | case report visceral leishmaniasis misdiagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus in a 36 year old migrant worker |
| topic | visceral leishmaniasis systemic lupus erythematosus liposomal amphotericin B bone marrow diagnosis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1614790/full |
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