Auto-immunedisorder as a cause of Pyrexia of unknown origin- A Case Report

Introduction :

The syndrome of fever of unknown origin (FUO) was defined in 1961 by Petersdorf and Beeson as the following:

A temperature greater than 38.3°C (101°F) on several occasions,
More than 3 weeks’ duration of illness, and
Failure to reach a diagnosis despite one week of inpatient investigation.

Most recently definition has been updated as persistent fever higher than 101°F for three weeks and failure to make a diagnosis with three outpatient visits or three days of inpatient investigation.However, it is important to allow for flexibility in this definition. The emergence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the expanding use of immunomodulating therapies prompted Durack and Street to propose differentiating FUO into four categories: classical FUO (Petersdorf definition), hospital-acquired FUO, immunocompromised or neutropenic FUO, and HIV-related FUO.

Case Report :

80 years old man, known case of CKD , type 2 DM , hypertension presented with complaints of fever . After initial stabilization, routine investigations were sent. For evaluation of fever cultures including blood C/S & urine C/S were sent. They were nonsuggestive. Further Dengue serology, Malarial test, Typhoid IgG&IgM were also sent which were negative. In due course , patient’s renal function deteriorated along with poor mental status. Patient was shifted to MICU and two sessions of hemodialysis were given. CT thorax and CT abdomen reports were also normal. Repeated blood C/S for fever were sterile , there was no evidence of fungal infection.CSF analysis was also normal. In view of unresolving fever, Steroid was given empirically after sending auto-immune profile. Thereafter patient’s fever subsided and his general condition improved. Auto- immune profile followed and c-ANCA was positive.

Discussion:

Algorithm for the diagnosis of fever of unknown origin

The emphasis in patients with classic FUO is on continued observation and examination with avoidance of “Shotgun” empirical therapy. If Mantoux test is strongly positive and granulomatous disease is suggested (and sarcoid seems unlikely) then a therapeutic trial for tuberculosis should be undertaken with treatment continued for up to 6 weeks. A failure of the fever to respond over this period suggests other alternative diagnosis. A response of rheumatic fever and still’s disease to aspirin and NSAIDs may be dramatic. The effects of glucocorticoids on temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica and granulomatous hepatitis are equally dramatic. The initiation of empirical therapy, doesn’t mark the end of the diagnostic work-up, rather it commits the physician to continued thoughtful reexamination and evaluation. Patience, compassion, equanimity, vigilance and intellectual flexibility are indispensable attributes for the clinician in dealing successfully with FUO.

Conclusion:

In India infections notably extra pulmonary tuberculosis is the most common cause of FUO. Noninfectious causes like collagen vascular disease and neoplasms are becoming important differential diagnosis. Thus during investigation that possibility should always be kept in mind. Geographic variations and local infection profiles should always be considered when investigating a case of FUO. However, some of the cases always elude diagnosis, although the patients may respond to empirical therapy.

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