Journal of Postgraduate Medicine Medknow Publications and Staff Society of Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India ISSN: 0022-3859 EISSN: 0972-2823 Vol. 53, Num. 4, 2007, pp. 232-235

Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, Vol. 53, No. 4, October-December, 2007, pp. 232-235

Original Article

Retrospective study of severe cases of leptospirosis admitted in the intensive care unit

Ittyachen AM, Krishnapillai TV, Nair MC, Rajan AR

Division of Critical Care and Emergency Services; Department of Medicine, MOSC Medical College, Kolenchery, Cochin, Kerala
Correspondence Address:Division of Critical Care and Emergency Services; Department of Medicine, MOSC Medical College, Kolenchery, Cochin, Kerala, abyliz@rediffmail.com

Date of Submission: 17-Nov-2006
Date of Decision: 03-Sep-2007
Date of Acceptance: 15-Sep-2007

Code Number: jp07083

Abstract

Keywords: Acute respiratory distress syndrome, leptospirosis, thrombocytopenia

Leptospirosis is an important zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution. ^[1] The disease has a wide spectrum of manifestation varying from mild influenza-like illness to fulminant and often fatal presentation with multi-organ involvement (Weil′s disease). Though advances have taken place in the treatment of leptospirosis, especially involving critical life supports and intensive care unit (ICU) care, the initial diagnosis of leptospirosis still remains presumptive taking into consideration the clinical presentation, risk factors and residence in an endemic area. Tests considered as ′gold-standard′ in the diagnosis of leptospirosis such as serovonversion, rise in antibody titer and leptospiral culture become positive only late into the illness; antibody levels attain detectable levels only by the second week and culture may take two to four weeks. ^[2] By this period the disease would have taken its course. Hence these tests do not contribute significantly in the initial diagnosis of leptospirosis.

Our hospital is situated in an area endemic for leptospirosis. The economy is predominantly agrarian with rice, pineapple and cash crops like rubber and spices being cultivated. Serologically confirmed cases of leptospirosis were first reported from our institution in 1987-1988 and leptospira was first cultured in 1989. ^[3] A new serovar has also been identified. ^[3]

This study was done to evaluate the patient demographics, risk factors, complications, seropositivity, treatment and outcome among patients admitted with a clinical diagnosis of leptospirosis in our ICU.

Materials and Methods

The study was done between 1 ^st January, 2005 and 30 ^th June, 2006 (18 months). Patients admitted to the ICU with a clinical diagnosis of leptopirosis were included in the study. The initial diagnosis was based on the clinical scoring system proposed by Faine (WHO guidelines). ^[4] Patients were also screened for other common tropical infections with similar clinical presentations. Dyspnoea, thrombocytopenia, renal failure, hypotension and myocarditis were the indications for ICU admission. Thrombocytopenia was taken as platelet count of less than 100,000/cu.mm and renal failure was defined as serum creatinine of more than 1.4 mg%. The diagnosis of ARDS/ALI (acute respiratory distress syndrome / acute lung injury) was based on the North American-European Consensus Conference Criteria. ^[5] The IgM antibody to leptospira was considered positive when the titer was above 80 (tested at admission and after one week if the patient survived). This was based on unpublished data from our hospital, data which supported an earlier study. ^[3] The patient′s demographic details, month of admission, risk for leptospirosis, leptospira IgM antibody positivity (serologically confirmed cases), complications, treatment details and outcome were reviewed.

All patients received crystalline penicillin which is the standard antibiotic for leptospirosis. ^[6] Platelets were transfused prophylatically when the platelet count fell below 15,000/cu.mm. Cases of ARDS/ALI received mechanical ventilation (invasive/noninvasive) and methylprednisolone.

Results

One hundred and four patients were admitted with a clinical suspicion of leptospirosis. Fifty-three (50.7%) were serologically confirmed cases; forty-one (39.4 %) were serologically negative (clinically leptospirosis) and 10 (9.6 %) were confirmed to have other diseases.

Males dominated both groups, 40 (75.5%) in the serologically positive group and 40 (75.5%) in the serologically negative group. In both groups the majority of patients were between 20 to 60 years of age.

[Figure - 1] shows that most of the admissions were between June to September. Exposure to soil and water (farming, especially rice) were the main risk factors; laborers in pineapple orchards and rubber tappers were also involved

Increase in liver enzymes, renal failure, thrombocytopenia and ARDS/ALI were the main complications; pancreatitis, myocarditis and pneumonia were also seen [Table - 1]. Fifteen patients received platelet transfusion in both the groups. Nine patients (five in the serologically positive group and four in the serologically negative group) had to be dialyzed .

The mortality in the seronegative group was 26.8% while it was only 3.8% in the seropositive group. The two patients who died in the serologically positive group had ARDS with multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) - primarily thromboctyopenia and renal failure. In the serologically negative group 11 patients died, six patients of ARDS and five with MODS [Figure - 2]. All the patients who died presented late into the illness.

Discussion

Of the 104 patients admitted with a presumptive diagnosis of leptospirosis, only 50.7% had serological evidence of leptospirosis. This is in agreement with WHO data; the initial diagnosis of leptospirosis still remains clinical, a presumptive one made in the correct epidemiological and clinical context. ^[4] As there is a clear correlation between complications and delay in onset of treatment ^[2] it is also imperative that a diagnosis be made early. Also, there is the confounding factor of other tropical infections with similar clinical presentations ^[2] to be taken care of. In this series 9.6% were confirmed to have other diseases (six were confirmed to have dengue fever, two had hepatitis-A, one was HIV positive and one turned out to be myelofibrosis). Routinely available serological tests such as microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) do not become positive until the second week. In addition, low titers or a delayed response may be observed in severe cases, in immunosuppressed patients and when high doses of antibiotics are administered in the early phase of the disease. ^[2] For these reasons detection of IgM antibody to leptospirosis may not be reliable. This could also be a plausible explanation for serological negativity and the disproportionate mortality (severity of illness), in this group in this study. Though rapid leptospiral antigen detection tests as PCR (polymerase chain reaction) are available this requires special equipment, dedicated laboratory space and also highly skilled personnel. ^[2]

Preponderance of male involvement in this study reflects the high risk of occupational exposure in this group. The fact that the majority were in the productive age-group is of concern as often they are the sole bread-winners in the family.

June to September corresponds to the monsoon season when risk for leptospirosis is highest and admissions were also maximum during this time. The risk of leptospirosis among those involved in rice cultivation is well known. We also describe the involvement of pineapple farmers and rubber tappers; abrasions caused by the serrated edges of the pineapple plant and the rubber tapper′s knife may be the portal of entry for the organism.

The classic presentation of leptospirosis is a biphasic illness with complications occurring in the second phase. Important causes of death include renal failure, cardiopulmonary failure and widespread hemorrhage. ^[2] Leptospirosis with multi-organ involvement uniformly carries a poor prognosis and is more common in patients in whom there has been a delay in the initiation of antibiotics. ^[2] This was true of all the patients who expired in this study. Also, the benefit of antibiotics after the fifth day of the disease is controversial. ^[2] The disproportionate mortality, 3.8% in the confirmed group and 26.8% in the negative group probably reflects the severity of illness; a poor antibody response has already been described in those with severe illness. ^[2]

Many case reports, clinical series and descriptions of outbreaks have documented pulmonary involvement in leptospirosis. ^[7],[8] Direct involvement of the organism, ^[9] inflammatory mediators ^[10] and vasculitis have all been incriminated as the cause. ^[11],[12] The evidence for use of steroids in ARDS is conflicting ^[13] but we have observed it to be useful when used in early ARDS due to leptospirosis and have reported it; ^[14] later studies confirm the same. ^[15] All the patients with ARDS in the serologically negative group died in this study while only two out of four died in the confirmed group.
Renal involvement is common in leptospirosis. Prognosis in renal failure is usually good unless complicated by multi-organ involvement. ^[16] All the patients who died of renal failure (one in the serologically positive group and two in the serologically negative group) in this study had multi-organ damage. Bacterial invasion, inflammatory processes, hemodynamic alterations and direct toxicity of bacterial products all contribute to the nephropathy of leptospirosis. ^[17],[18] Interstitial nephritis is the basic lesion seen. ^[19]

Unlike renal failure the pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia in leptospirosis is not well elucidated. Postulates include disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), ^[20] toxin-mediated mechanism, ^[21] as a direct complication of leptospiral vasculitis or due to an undetected platelet antibody. ^[22] Though thrombocytopenia with widespread hemorrhage is described as one of the complications ^[2] in leptospirosis, this was not observed in our series.

Increase in liver enzymes - SGPT/ALT and SGOT/AST (up to five times the normal) with a disproportionately high jaundice which was seen in this study has been described as a prognostic marker in leptospirosis. ^[23] This was the predominant finding in both the groups in this study.

Pancreatitis, ^[24] myocarditis ^[25],[26] and pneumonia, ^[27],[28] the other complications reported in this series are described in leptospirosis.

Conclusion

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease with multi-system involvement in severe cases. Advances in critical care life supports may have improved the prognosis of this disease but the initial diagnosis still depends on a high index of clinical suspicion, routinely available diagnostic tests being unreliable in the initial period. Development of a reliable, unsophisticated diagnostic technique for early detection would mitigate this problem.

As leptospirosis in its early stage mimics other tropical infections of less severity, there is a need to educate both medical professionals and the general public (especially with risk of occupational exposure) about the disease and the need to seek early medical intervention.

The pathogenesis and treatment of complications of leptospirosis like renal failure, thrombocytopenia and ARDS, especially the role of steroids merits further evaluation.

Acknowledgment

References

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