Chronic Q-fever in Patients With an Abdominal Aortic Disease (QAAD-study)

Study design: Prospective observational survey Domain: Patients with an abdominal aneurysm or central vascular reconstruction in an endemic area after an outbreak of acute Q-fever. Data collection: In Jeroen Bosch Hospital and Bernhoven Hospital all patients with an aneurysm or central vascular reconstruction will be screened for Q-fever. Other hospitals in Holland will only check for Q-fever, if they suspect a patient of having an infected aneurysm or prosthesis. A patient with chronic Q-fever will enter a multidisciplinary follow-up program. First, a PET/CT-scan will be provided (question; signs of an infected aneurysm/prosthesis)and chronic Q-fever endocarditis will be excluded. The patients will initially be treated with doxycycline 2 dd 100mg and plaquenil 200mg 3dd for at least 18 months. A 3-monthly follow-up will start, in which bloodsample, ultrasounds and PET/CTscan will be performed. Data will be collected in SPSS for analyses. Definitions; Past resolved Q-fever: Any IgG phase 2 and IgG phase 1 \<1:1024 Chronic Q-fever: IgG phase 1 \>= 1:1024