An unusual case of pancytopenia in a nonagenarian: visceral leishmaniasis

Aging Clin Exp Res. 2014 Dec;26(6):671-2. doi: 10.1007/s40520-014-0219-x. Epub 2014 Apr 23.

Abstract

Older patients referred for further investigation of pancytopenia is common in internal medicine and geriatric clinics and it is important to consider a wide range of underlying diagnoses. We present an unusual case of febrile pancytopenia in a nonagenarian who was diagnosed with visceral leishmaniasis. This is a rare and unusual diagnosis in nonagenarians, although the leishmaniasis is endemic on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. It is important to identify it because it is treatable and curable.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Humans
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / diagnosis*
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / parasitology
  • Male
  • Pancytopenia / diagnosis*
  • Pancytopenia / parasitology*