Q Fever Hepatitis

Hepatic involvement was appraised in three individuals with Q fever. One patient presented with moderately severe hepatitis without pulmonary involvement, whereas the other two were volunteers participating in a trial to evaluate Q fever vaccine. Findings suggest that liver involvement is common in Q fever and that histologic changes are more striking than blood chemical findings. The case of naturally acquired disease shows the clinical variability of Q fever, as extensive granulomatous hepatic infiltration occurred without detectable pulmonary involvement. Q fever is becoming more prevalent throughout the United States and should be considered in patients whose illness resembles "atypical pneumonia" or "infectious hepatitis."