An interesting case of glomerulonephritis and rhabdomyolysis

Abstract

A 19-year-old male from a rural background with no prior co-morbidities came with chief complaints of fever for 4 days, associated with chills, rigors, myalgias and high coloured urine. On general examination, pallor was present. Vitals and systemic examination were normal. Routine blood investigations were sent, and two sets of blood cultures were sent. The patient was empirically started on ceftriaxone. Complete urine examination showed >20 red blood cells (RBCs)/high-power field (HPF) with four to five RBC casts/HPF. Initial creatine phosphokinase was 3216 U/L. The patient's fever spikes continued, and antibiotic was changed to piperacillin-tazobactam after 48 h and then to meropenem. Fever spikes continued. The patient developed pancytopenia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Final blood culture report grew Brucella melitensis. The patient was started on streptomycin and doxycycline. The patient improved clinically and discharged in clinically stable condition.

Keywords

• brucella melitensis
• creatine phosphokinase
• pancytopenia