LETTER
Human Granulocytic Ehrlichiosis: A Cardiac Risk Factor?
Ulrich P. Jorde, MD
1 July 1997 | Volume 127 Issue 1 | Pages 89-90
TO THE EDITOR:
I read with great interest the case series of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis from Westchester County Medical Center, New York [1]. As the authors point out, the disease in their series seemed to be relatively benign if treated early. The prevalence of significant comorbid conditions compared with that in patients in previous studies from the midwestern United States would be of interest. It is also noteworthy that 2 of the 18 patients presented with chest pain (notably, this patient did not have arthralgias or myalgias) and syncope, respectively. Cardiac manifestations of another tickborne illness, Lyme disease, have been described. Was concomitant infection with Borrelia burgdorferi excluded, and did the patients in the Westchester series have a cardiac workup? Results of such an investigation might contribute to the expanding knowledge of the effect of infectious agents in cardiovascular diseases.
This most interesting and well-documented case series will probably revive the complex issue of postexposure prophylactic treatment of tick bites in areas endemic for such tick-borne diseases as Lyme disease and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis.
|
Author and Article Information
|
|---|
Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Bronx, NY 10461
1. Aguero-Rosenfeld ME, Horowitz HW, Wormser GP, McKenna DF, Nowakowski J, Munoz J, et al. Human granulocytic ehrlichiosis: a case series from a medical center in New York State. Ann Intern Med. 1996; 125:904-8.
About Letters
The Editors welcome submissions for possible publication in the Letters section. Authors of letters should:
•Include no more than 300 words of text, three authors, and five references
•Type with double-spacing
•Send three copies of the letter, an authors' form signed by all authors, and a cover letter describing any conflicts of interest related to the contents of the letter.
Letters commenting on an Annals article will be considered if they are received within 6 weeks of the time the article was published. Only some of the letters received can be published. Published letters are edited and may be shortened; tables and figures are included only selectively. Authors will be notified that the letter has been received. If the letter is selected for publication, the author will be notified about 3 weeks before the publication date. Unpublished letters cannot be returned.
Annals welcomes electronically submitted letters.
Top
Author & Article Info
REFERENCE
Article
