[A fatal case of chronic Q fever with cardiovascular involvement].

A lethal case is reported of chronic Q-fever in a patient aged 34 who regarded himself as completely healthy six months before his death. The diagnosis was made on the basis of vital investigation of blood sera in a complement-fixation test and indirect fluorescent-antibody test (antibody titers 1 : 1280 against phase 1 and 1 : 320 against phase 2 Coxiella burnetii), differentiation of antibodies as distinct classes of immunoglobulins, results of pathoanatomical and microbiological investigations. Pathoanatomical features of the organs are fully detailed, especially those of the heart. Death occurred in the presence of cardiac failure growing progressively worse, involving many organs. Patients with cardiovascular pathology have to be examined for Q-fever in order that we should be able to early detect and apply specific therapy to treat its chronic form.