Fever of Unknown Origin: a Challenging Case Sarah Vella,1 Bernard Coleiro,2 Charles Mallia Azzopardi3
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Rare disease BMJ Case Reports: first published as 10.1136/bcr-2017-224031 on 4 June 2018. Downloaded from CASE REPORT Fever of unknown origin: a challenging case Sarah Vella,1 Bernard Coleiro,2 Charles Mallia Azzopardi3 1Medicine, Mater Dei Hospital, SUMMARY She had already been hospitalised 3 weeks prior Msida, Malta We report a case of Cogan’s syndrome presenting as to this admission, at which time she was treated 2 Rheumatology, Mater Dei fever of unknown origin in a 31-year-old woman who with empirical antibiotics for a presumed commu- Hospital, Msida, Malta was admitted to the hospital with a 7-week history of nity-acquired pneumonia as CT scan of the thorax/ 3Infectious Diseases, Mater Dei abdomen/pelvis had revealed subsegmental patchy Hospital, Msida, Malta fever, night sweats and other constitutional symptoms. The diagnosis remained elusive despite numerous consolidation of the left lower lobe of the lung. Correspondence to investigations, and the patient subsequently developed The patient was readmitted as she continued to Dr Sarah Vella, rash, episcleritis, dizziness and sensorineural hearing have fever despite completing the course of antibi- smv2610@ gmail. com loss. While initially thought to be a postinflammatory otics prescribed. The history was reviewed in detail response to a previous infection, confirmation of the with special attention being given to social, sexual Accepted 15 May 2018 rash as a vasculitis together with the audiovestibular and and travel history. She had been working in a glass ocular involvement led to a clinical diagnosis of Cogan’s factory for a number of years and had not left the syndrome. This was further corroborated by resolution country in recent months. There was no family or of her symptoms once immunosuppressive therapy sexual history of note and she had no contact with animals apart from her healthy pet dog. The fever was instituted. Early recognition of Cogan’s syndrome had been going on for a total of 7 weeks, and she is crucial to reducing the risk of serious complications had also been experiencing drenching night sweats, through the timely initiation of treatment. joint pains and myalgias, with recent development of dizziness and hearing impairment. She denied any gastrointestinal symptoms. On examination she BACKGROUND was noted to have conjunctival injection secondary Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is defined as a body to episcleritis and a non-pruritic maculopapular rash temperature of ≥38.3°C on at least two occasions and over the upper limbs (figure 1), as well as nodular, a duration of illness of ≥3 weeks or having multiple tender lesions over her lower limbs. There were no febrile episodes over this time period. There must be orogenital ulcerations or joint swellings and she was no obvious diagnosis despite complete history taking neurologically intact. http://casereports.bmj.com/ and examination, as well as appropriate investigation that should include routine blood tests, inflamma- INVESTIGATIONS tory markers, autoimmune screen, cultures, chest Routine blood investigations were unremarkable radiography and abdominal imaging.1 Investigation apart from a normocytic normochromic anaemia includes identifying any potential diagnostic clues with a high reticulocyte count, a neutrophilic (PDCs) that can help reveal the underlying cause leucocytosis and raised inflammatory markers of the fever; however, up to 50% of cases of FUO (figure 2). Blood and urine cultures, as well as an remain undiagnosed.2 extensive viral screen which included serology for The case described here is of a rare condition Epstein-Barr virus, Cytomegalovirus and HIV, were presenting with FUO that proved to be a diagnostic negative. on 24 September 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. challenge. Despite its rarity, accurate documentation Systemic vasculitis such as granulomatosis with of cases of Cogan’s syndrome remains crucial to polyangiitis was excluded as repeat autoimmune screens, which included ANA (antinuclear anti- improving our awareness and understanding of this body), ANCA (anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic anti- condition. This could in turn bring about the devel- body), ASMA (anti-smooth muscle antibody), opment of more effective treatment as well as reduce rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP (anti-cyclic citrulli- patient morbidity by leading to earlier diagnosis. Our nated peptide) and complement levels, were nega- case also stresses how laboratory and radiological tive. Repeat imaging of the chest showed complete investigations should not serve as an alternative to resolution of the previous pulmonary consolidation thorough clinical assessments since early recognition following antibiotic treatment. This, together with of PDCs and symptom complexes is more likely to the absence of lymphadenopathy, a normal serum help clinch a diagnosis than investigations which can calcium and negative serum ACE, excluded a diag- at times return non-specific results. nosis of sarcoidosis, and no further pulmonary investigations were considered. To cite: Vella S, Coleiro B, CASE PRESENTATION Serological tests for Mycoplasma, Bartonella, Mallia Azzopardi C. BMJ Case A 31-year-old Caucasian female smoker was Rep Published Online First: Coxiella, Brucella, Borrelia burgdorferi and Chla- [please include Day Month admitted to the hospital with a 7-week history mydia, as well as for other infective conditions Year]. doi:10.1136/bcr-2017- of fever associated with night sweats, joint pains, including syphilis and leishmania, were negative. 224031 myalgia and nasal congestion. Tests for antistreptolysin O titre, cryoglobulins and Vella S, et al. BMJ Case Rep 2018. doi:10.1136/bcr-2017-224031 1 Rare disease BMJ Case Reports: first published as 10.1136/bcr-2017-224031 on 4 June 2018. Downloaded from was excluded on the basis of the patient not having gastroin- testinal symptoms and a negative faecal calprotectin. A provisional diagnosis of postinflammatory reaction to a previous infection complicated by low-grade haemolysis with possible myringitis was made, with both of these being recognised complications of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. The patient was prescribed doxycycline together with a non-steroidal anti-in- flammatory agent for fever control and prochlorperazine to help relieve the dizziness. A week after being discharged on the above treatment, her symptoms had not improved. In view of her worsening hearing impairment, audiometry was performed and this confirmed bilat- eral sensorineural hearing loss. Biopsies from the lower limb rash showed a perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate typical of small-sized and medium-sized vessel vasculitis. On considering all of the patient’s symptoms and their evolu- tion, a tentative diagnosis of Cogan’s syndrome was entertained. She had gone on to develop all the classical features of the condi- Figure 1 Upper limb maculopapular rash. tion, that is, audiovestibular and ocular involvement together with vasculitis. cold agglutinins were also performed in order to rule out an TREATMENT underlying infectious cause. After being diagnosed with Cogan’s syndrome, the patient was An MRI of the patient’s brain was performed in view of her started on oral prednisolone therapy with subsequent addition audiovestibular symptoms; however, this only revealed long- of methotrexate and folic acid. standing mastoid effusions. OUTCOME AND FOLLOW-UP DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS Within a week of starting systemic steroids, our patient became The causes of FUO can be grouped as infectious, non-infec- afebrile with significant improvements in both her skin rash and tious inflammatory disorders, malignancy, and miscellaneous hearing. She was advised to gradually tail off her steroids but which includes conditions such as thyrotoxicosis. All of the returned soon after in view of flare-up of all her prior symptoms, possible causes in these categories which could potentially including low-grade fever, skin lesions, hearing impairment and explain the clinical picture in this case, including rare ones, conjunctival suffusion. It was also noted that her inflammatory were considered and excluded following intensive investiga- markers had started to increase again (figure 2). tion. One such example was syphilis, which can present with The patient was reviewed by a rheumatologist who agreed http://casereports.bmj.com/ similar ocular manifestations. The absence of orogenital ulcer- with the diagnosis and started her on methotrexate and folic ation made Behçet’s unlikely, and inflammatory bowel disease acid with more gradual tailing down of steroids. The patient has on 24 September 2021 by guest. Protected copyright. Figure 2 Graph showing trend in the patient’s white cell count (WCC) and C reactive protein (CRP). High CRP level improved once steroid therapy was initiated; however, a second rise was noted on tailing down of the dose. The persistently elevated WCC can be attributed to that same steroid therapy. 2 Vella S, et al. BMJ Case Rep 2018. doi:10.1136/bcr-2017-224031 Rare disease BMJ Case Reports: first published as 10.1136/bcr-2017-224031 on 4 June 2018. Downloaded from since remained stable on methotrexate, folic acid and low-dose case Migliori et al10 advised monthly vestibuloauditory steroid therapy. assessment for the first 3 months, then 3 monthly for the first 2 years, every 6 months in the third year and yearly DISCUSSION thereafter. Cogan’s syndrome is a rare immune-mediated vasculitis that Early treatment is important in order to limit progres- mostly affects young adults with no known gender predomi-