[Leptospirosis in Gastroenterology. Study of 14 cases in the Hospital Universitário de Caracas 1984-1994].

14 cases that were admitted to the Hospital Universitario de Caracas, between 1.989 and 1.994, with a definitive diagnosis of Leptospirosis by microaglutination of live antigens were studied. Most of them hospitalized at the gastroenterology service. The serovar most frequently found was icterohemorragiae 11 cases. There was a predominium for the male gender 12/2 and the majority of patients belonged to the range of age between 31 and 40. The most common forms of presentations were: fever (14), jaundice (10) and myalgias (10) while the most relevant findings at physical examination were: jaundice (12), fever (11) and hepatomegaly (8). All patients had abnormal laboratory tests and among these, aminotransferases, bilirrubin, creatinin, CPK, platelets and urinary sediment were more frequently altered. Only half of the patients were diagnosed as Leptospirosis at the moment of admission. We conclude that even though Leptospirosis is an infectious disease distributed worldwide only few cases are hospitalized and differential diagnosis is difficult because of diversity of clinical presentations and lack of laboratory resources. It is important for gastroenterologists because most of complicated cases present as jaundiced patients.