[Respiratory complications of leptospirosis. Apropos of 6 cases, 3 of which show hemodynamic studies].

Six cases of leptospirosis with pulmonary complications are reported. Three cases were accompanying an hepato-nephritis due to L. icterohaemorrhagiae. The first patient died with massive hemoptysis. The second, presenting a bilateral pneumopathy predominant on the left side, recovered after plasma exchange and hemofiltration. The third case concerned a pulmonary edema complicating a vascular refilling in a shock syndrome it simply recovered. The three other cases were observed in an anicteric leptospirosis: in two cases, L. Australis was responsible; in the last, L. icterohaemorrhagiae was involved. The first patient had a radiologic picture simulating miliary tuberculosis. The second had pulmonary edema complicating a vascular refilling in a shock syndrome. The last was an acute respiratory distress syndrome, treated with artificial ventilation with penicillin therapy and corticotherapy. All these 3 patients recovered. The diagnostic, physiopathologic and therapeutic problems of these pulmonary complications of leptospirosis are discussed. The lesional nature of the pulmonary edema is proved by the low pulmonary wedge pressures observed with the Swan-Ganz Catheter.