Abstract
The recommended treatment for Q fever endocarditis is a combination of doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine. We found a correlation between serum doxycycline concentrations and decreases in levels of phase 1 Coxiella burnetii antibodies, in 24 patients with Q fever endocarditis. Patients who had a >2-fold decrease in levels of phase 1 antibodies had serum doxycycline concentrations higher than those of the other patients (mean+/-SD, 5.29+/-1.75 vs. 3.14+/-1.40 microg/mL; P=.003). We recommend adjusting the posology of doxycycline to achieve a serum concentration of at least 5 microg/mL.
MeSH terms
-
Adult
-
Aged
-
Aged, 80 and over
-
Anti-Bacterial Agents / blood*
-
Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
-
Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
-
Coxiella burnetii / growth & development*
-
Coxiella burnetii / immunology
-
Doxycycline / blood*
-
Doxycycline / therapeutic use
-
Endocarditis, Bacterial / blood*
-
Endocarditis, Bacterial / drug therapy
-
Endocarditis, Bacterial / immunology
-
Female
-
Humans
-
Hydroxychloroquine / administration & dosage
-
Hydroxychloroquine / blood
-
Hydroxychloroquine / therapeutic use
-
Immunoglobulin A / blood
-
Immunoglobulin G / blood
-
Male
-
Middle Aged
-
Q Fever / blood*
-
Q Fever / drug therapy
-
Q Fever / immunology
Substances
-
Anti-Bacterial Agents
-
Antibodies, Bacterial
-
Immunoglobulin A
-
Immunoglobulin G
-
Hydroxychloroquine
-
Doxycycline