A 51-year-old went to the ER with chest pain. The hospital found enlarged lymph nodes and lesions in his spleen, liver and vertebrae. At first, increased metabolism in the lesions suggested cancer, but this was ruled out with additional tests. A biopsy of his liver and an antibody test yielded a diagnosis of #CatScratchDisease, an infection of #Bartonella henselae bacteria.
Cat-Scratch Disease is usually found in children, not adults, unless they are immunocompromised. The hospital discovered this patient had an immune deficiency in IgA antibodies.
Interestingly, the man had been hospitalized four years earlier with signs of Bartonella infection in his lungs. Study authors conclude it is likely that Cat-Scratch Disease was responsible for the prior lung issue as well. NEW/FREE:
