The Jarisch-Herxheimer Reaction in Leptospirosis: A Systematic Review

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 8; no. 3; p. e59266
• Main Authors: Guerrier, Gilles, D’Ortenzio, Eric
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 26.03.2013; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - adverse effects; Antibiotics; Biology; Case reports; Clinical trials; Clinical Trials as Topic; Databases, Bibliographic; Disease; Disease Management; Epidemics; Fever - chemically induced; Fever - immunology; Guidelines; Herxheimer reaction; Humans; Inflammation; Leptospira; Leptospirosis; Leptospirosis - drug therapy; Leptospirosis - immunology; Leptospirosis - microbiology; Life Sciences; Literature reviews; Medicine; Mortality; Penicillin; Penicillins - adverse effects; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Renal failure; Reviews; Santé publique et épidémiologie; Studies; Syphilis; Textbooks; Tropical diseases; Veterinary Science; Zoonoses; Malaysia; Malaya
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059266

Leptospirosis is an endemo-epidemic zoonotic disease associated with potentially fatal renal, cardiovascular or pulmonary failure. Recommended treatment includes antibiotics, which may induce a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (JHR). Since little information on the importance of this adverse event is available, we performed this review to quantify frequency and impact of JHR in leptospirosis management. This review systematically summarizes the literature on the JHR in leptospirosis. To approach the broader aspects of the subject, articles considering the treatment of leptospirosis, national leptospirosis guidelines and textbook and technical reports of the World Health Organisation were reviewed. Publications describing JHR in leptospirosis are very limited and consist mainly of single case reports and small case series. A single randomized control trial specifically assessed the JHR occurrence, but it has never been systematically investigated in large trials. Not all guidelines and not all literature on leptospirosis mention this reaction which can be fatal. Although generally assumed to be a rare event, the true prevalence of JHR in leptospirosis is unknown and the awareness of this event is insufficient. All leptospirosis guidelines and local leptospirosis protocols should stress on systematic monitoring for clinical status early after antibiotic administration. Large well designed studies are required to precise the incidence and the impact of JHR as well as the severity and rates between various antibiotics.