Abdominal US Findings of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever

Abstract

Introduction: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is one of the deadly diseases, clinically causing viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks. It is especially transmitted through tick bite and body secretions and accepted as an indigenous disease in certain regions in the world and in our country. Many of the organs, especially the lungs, are affected by this disease. However, current studies are not sufficiently relate the disease and abdominal organ involvement. Therefore, we aim to discuss the ultrasonography (US) findings of the CCHF disease in the context of the literature. Material and Method: The retrospective analysis of the hospital records of 283 patients, who were serologically diagnosed as CCHF between 2012-2016 was performed. Abdominal ultrasonography examination revealed that, 20 of those patients had findings in the womb. US findings of these 20 patients were analyzed. Results Nine patients (45%) were male, and 11 patients (55%) were female. The most common findings of abdominal US examinations were; the hepatomegalia and the intra-abdominal free fluid. Gallbladder wall thickening and splenomegalia were also commonly found in these patients. Periportal hyperechogenicity, intramuscular hemorrhage, colon wall thickening, sludge in gallbladder, renal hyperechogenicity, renal ectasia and ureter dilatation were rarely observed. Conclusion Our study is among the exceptional studies on the analysis of abdominal US findings of CCHF. The most commonly observed findings in our patients were the hepatomegalia and the intra-abdominal free fluid. Intra-abdominal findings of the disease were extremely variable. This study will shed light to the future comprehensive studies.

Keywords

• crimean-congo hemorhagic fever;ultrasonography
• kırım kongo kanamalı ateşi
• ultrasonografi