1/33. Congenital asplenia detected in a 60 year old patient with septicemia.A 60 year-old female who had never been seriously ill, was brought to the emergency ward after she had been found somnolent at home. She developed renal failure, meningitis, respiratory distress and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Overwhelming septicemia was evident, and streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Surprisingly, peripheral blood smears showed numerous Howell-Jolly-bodies, indicating severe impairment of splenic function. On abdominal ultrasound, CT-scan, and scintigraphy no spleen could be detected. There was no history of abdominal surgery. Apparently, congenital asplenia, which was not noticed until the age of 60, was responsible for the patient's life-threatening septicemia. We suggest that, in cases of severe septicemia, the examination of a blood smear is useful to detect functional (or congenital) asplenia.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coagulation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/33. bacillus cereus causing fulminant sepsis and hemolysis in two patients with acute leukemia.PURPOSE: hemolysis is so rarely associated with bacillus cereus sepsis that only two very well documented cases have been reported. This article reports two unusual cases of bacillus cereus sepsis with massive intravascular hemolysis in patients who had acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). patients AND methods: A 20-year-old woman who was 9 weeks pregnant experienced a relapse of ALL. A therapeutic abortion was performed. During week 4 of reinduction the patient had abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting, with severe neutropenia but no fever. Her condition deteriorated rapidly with cardiovascular collapse, acute massive intravascular hemolysis, and death within hours of the onset of symptoms. blood cultures were positive for bacillus cereus. Postmortem histologic examination and cultures revealed bacillus cereus and candida albicans in multiple organs. The second patient, a 10-year-old girl, presented with relapsed T-cell ALL. In the second week of reinduction, she had abdominal pain followed by hypotension. Again, no fever was noted. Laboratory studies showed intravascular hemolysis 12 hours after admission. Aggressive support was promptly initiated. Despite disseminated intravascular coagulation; cardiovascular, hepatic, and renal failure; and multiple intracerebral hypodense lesions believed to be infarcts, the patient recovered fully and resumed reinduction therapy. CONCLUSIONS: bacillus cereus infection can have a fulminant clinical course that may be complicated by massive intravascular hemolysis. This pathogen should be suspected in immunosuppressed patients who experience gastrointestinal symptoms and should not be precluded by the absence of fever, especially if steroids such as dexamethasone are being given. Exchange transfusion may be lifesaving in bacillus cereus septicemia associated with massive hemolysis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coagulation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/33. Invasive Group C Streptococcus infection associated with rhabdomyolysis and disseminated intravascular coagulation in a previously healthy adult.Infections with Group C Streptococci can lead to severe disease, particularly in individuals with underlying illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, malignancy or immunosuppression. We report the first case of rhabdomyolysis and disseminated intravascular coagulation secondary to Group C Streptococcus in a previous healthy male. A toxic shock-like syndrome associated with Group C and Group G Streptococci has been reported. However, unlike with Group A Streptococci, production of endotoxins by these organisms is less well defined. We tested the patient's isolate for its ability to produce superantigenic toxins and to induce a mitogenic response. Although it is not known whether Group C Streptococci require special growth conditions for the production of superantigens, we could not demonstrate either the production of exotoxins or the induction of a mitogenic response.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = coagulation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/33. Septic superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis.An illustrative case of septic superior ophthalmic vein thrombosis secondary to a staphylococcus orbital cellulitis is presented and correlated with autopsy findings. A literature review and discussion of the risks and benefits of anti-coagulation in this setting is outlined.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coagulation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/33. bacteroides fragilis bacteremia associated with portal vein and superior mesentery vein thrombosis secondary to antithrombin iii and protein c deficiency: a case report.Hypercoagulability is one of the causes of portal vein and superior mesentery vein thrombosis. We report a case of bacteroides fragilis bacteremia associated with portal vein and superior mesentery vein thrombosis secondary to antithrombin iii and protein c deficiency. The patient presented with high fever for more than 3 weeks. Abdominal sonography revealed a liver cyst of 1.7 cm in diameter over segment 4 and a renal stone of 0.7 cm in size over the lower portion of the right kidney but no evidence of hydronephrosis. Elevation of liver enzymes was also noted. Intermittent fever was noted despite treatment with ceftriaxone and doxycycline. On Day 15 of hospitalization, blood culture revealed B. fragilis, which prompted further investigation of the source of intraabdominal and pelvic infection. Abdominal computed tomography revealed portal vein and superior mesentery vein thrombosis. Endoscopic studies of the gastrointestinal tract showed no tumor or diverticulum. Study of coagulation factors disclosed deficiency of antithrombin iii and protein C. Clinicians should remain aware of the need to promptly search for a portal or mesentery vein thrombosis in cases of Bacteroides bacteremia of unknown origin.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coagulation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/33. Intestinal perforations in a premature infant caused by bacillus cereus.Although bacillus cereus is a ubiquitous bacterium, the incidence of neonatal infections is very low with only a few cases of B. cereus infections in neonates reported in the literature. We report the case of a premature infant with multiple intestinal perforations and an abdominal B. cereus infection. The initial course was characterized by severe cardiovascular shock, anemia, thrombocytopenia and disseminated intravascular coagulation, leading to periventricular leukomalacia, alopecia capitis and toxic epidermal necrolysis. The possible role of B. cereus-associated enterotoxins for the clinical manifestations are discussed. Our case confirms previous reports of severe clinical symptoms in B. cereus infection in premature neonates. We speculate that the systemic complications of B. cereus infection are at least partly related to the effect of B. cereus-associated enterotoxins.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coagulation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/33. Acute skin and fat necrosis during sepsis in a patient with chronic renal failure and subcutaneous arterial calcification.Calcification of small subcutaneous arteries and arterioles is commonly found in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), but the syndrome of acute ischemic necrosis of the skin and subcutaneous fat supplied by these vessels is relatively uncommon. The necrosis occurs during dialysis and after successful renal transplantation, and it is often fatal. Occlusion of the calcified arteries and associated microvessels by thrombi is reported infrequently, but it is relevant to the necrosis. However, the pathogenesis remains enigmatic. In the patient described here, who had CRF, bacteremia, and laboratory evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), the distribution of thrombi and necrosis was mainly that of the calcified arteries which, therefore, probably played a role in the localization of the thrombi. An increased susceptibility of the endothelium of calcified vessels to the procoagulant effects of sepsis may be a contributing factor.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coagulation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/33. pseudarthrosis presenting as a late complication of meningococcal septicaemia and disseminated intravascular coagulation.Late skeletal complications of meningococcal septicaemia and disseminated intravascular coagulation are well recognised in children and are largely centred on the growing epimetaphyseal region of long bones. In this article we describe a case of pseudarthrosis of the mid-ulna presenting 18 months following a devastating episode of meningococcal septicaemia in a 3-year-old boy. Radiographs and MRI demonstrated the ulna abnormality. We briefly review the late skeletal complications of the disease and other causes of pseudarthrosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = coagulation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/33. A case of right loin pain: septic ovarian vein thrombosis due to campylobacter fetus bacteraemia.INTRODUCTION: Septic ovarian venous thrombosis is an uncommon condition. diagnosis is often not immediately apparent clinically and there are many that mimic this condition. We described an unusual case of septic ovarian vein thrombosis associated with campylobacter fetus (C. fetus) bacteraemia. CLINICAL PICTURE: A 46-year-old female presented with fever and acute right loin pain. Right ovarian venous thrombosis was demonstrated on sonography and confirmed with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. C. fetus was isolated from the blood. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: The patient was given antibiotics and anticoagulation therapy with good response. CONCLUSION: Septic ovarian vein thrombosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in female patients presenting with fever associated with lower abdominal pain. C. fetus bacteraemia also predisposes to thrombophlebitis, including septic ovarian vein thrombosis. When they are diagnosed in a timely manner and treated appropriately, the response is good and potential serious complications, including thromboembolism, and death could be averted. Radiological imaging is useful in the diagnostic work-up of this condition.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coagulation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/33. pasteurella multocida septicemia caused by close contact with a domestic cat: case report and literature review.We report here a case of pasteurella multocida infection caused by cat exposure presenting with septic shock, sinusitis, and pneumonia. The patient was a febrile 20-year-old woman who had been experiencing disturbed consciousness progressively. She had close contact with a domestic cat and had received some scratches on both arms. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the head showed a high intensity in the paranasal cavity, and a computed tomographic (CT) scan of the chest showed bilateral lung consolidations. The pathogen was identified as P. multocida by the cultures from blood and nasal discharge. She was given intensive antibiotic therapy with ceftriaxone and piperacillin, continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF) therapy, and anticoagulation therapy. Owing to these therapeutic regimens, the septic shock was successfully treated without complications. We also review the literature on P. multocida septicemia.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = coagulation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
| | Next -> |