A Case of Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Complicated with Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Background: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is one of the common causes of tick-borne hemorrhagic infections. The study aims to report a case of a female patient with severe CCHF with pulmonary embolism.

Case report: A 61-year-old woman admitted to the emergency department with complaints of high fever, nausea, and weakness. The patient was dealing with animal husbandry and had a tick bite history. At laboratory findings, bicytopenia, abnormal liver function tests and elevated coagulation parameters were observed. Real-time PCR confirmed the diagnosis of CCHF. Three sessions of plasmapheresis were performed due to continued fever and worsening in laboratory values. Pulmonary embolism was detected in computerized thorax tomography carried out due to respiratory alkalosis on the sixth day. She was successfully treated with supportive and anticoagulation therapy.

Conclusion: CCHF demonstrates different types of clinical presentations apart from fever and hemorrhage. Acute pulmonary embolism is a rare complication that has not been reported before. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever; Pulmonary Embolism; therapeutic plasma exchange.