Clostridium perfringens septicemia with massive hemolysis in a patient with Hodgkin's lymphoma

• Published in: The American journal of emergency medicine Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 152 - 154
• Main Authors: Singer, Adam J, Migdal, Phyllis M, Oken, Jonathan P, Chale, Stuart N, Moll, Ute M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Elsevier Inc 01.03.1997; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bacteremia - etiology; Biological and medical sciences; Clostridium Infections - etiology; Clostridium perfringens; Diagnosis, Differential; Emergency Service, Hospital; Fatal Outcome; Female; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Hemolysis; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome - diagnosis; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome - microbiology; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome - therapy; Hodgkin Disease - complications; Humans; Leukemias. Malignant lymphomas. Malignant reticulosis. Myelofibrosis; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; septicemia; Hemolysis; Clostridium perfringens; septicemia; Human; Intensive care; Septicemia; Intravascular space; Clostridiales; Hodgkin disease; Malignant hemopathy; Lymphoma; Case study; Lymphoproliferative syndrome; Clostridiaceae; Bacteria; Complication; Severity score; Diagnosis
• ISSN: 0735-6757; 1532-8171
• DOI: 10.1016/S0735-6757(97)90088-7

A 55-year-old woman with stage IV-B nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's lymphoma presented to the emergency department with fever and lethargy of 12 hours' duration. The patient developed massive intravascular hemolysis secondary to Clostridium perfringens sepsis and cardiac arrest unresponsive to transfusions and cardiac pulmonary resuscitation, and died within 4 hours of presentation. The differential diagnosis of massive intravascular hemolysis, as well as the pathogenesis and treatment of C perfringens-induced hemolysis, are discussed.