Background: A gastrointestinal (GI) variant of Lemierre's syndrome (LS) involving Fusobacterium species causing pylephlebitis and possibly liver abscesses was recently identified. This systematic review aims to summarize the literature on this variant.
Methods: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane databases were searched up to November, 2nd, 2023 for case reports or case series detailing the GI variant of LS. Data regarding demographics, clinical features, and management were extracted. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis, including means, standard deviations, and percentages.
Results: The cohort included 36 patients (mean age 50.8 years; predominantly men 72%). Positive blood cultures were detected in 88.8% of cases, primarily growing (47.2%) and (33.3%). The GI tract was the primary infection source (58.3%), mostly related to diverticular disease (25%). Common manifestations were fever (86.1%), abdominal pain (72.2%), and leukocytosis (86.1%). Thrombosis involved the portal vein in 77.7%, with isolated portal vein thrombosis (PVT) (44.4%) and PVT extending to the superior mesenteric vein (30.5%). Liver abscesses were detected in 50% of cases, with positive aspirate cultures in 92.3%. Treatment included penicillin/penicillin-lactamase inhibitors alone (17%) and ertapenem alone (17%). Abscess drainage (13/18) resulted in complete/near-complete resolution in 83%. Long-term anticoagulation therapy was given in 75% of cases, commonly using vitamin K antagonists (59.2%). No deaths occurred.
Conclusion: The GI variant of LS should be considered in patients with abdominal pain, fever, leukocytosis, and portal/superior mesenteric vein thrombosis. Identifying Fusobacterium species in blood cultures and liver abscesses further supports the diagnosis. Management involves antibiotic therapy, abscess drainage, and long-term anticoagulation.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jceh.2023.101319 | DOI Listing |
ACG Case Rep J
January 2025
Department of Medicine, Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA.
Liver transplant may be necessary to manage infectious complications from severe structural biliary disease. In this report, we describe a 71-year-old woman with history of coil-embolized hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm who subsequently developed biliary obstruction resulting from coil erosion into the common hepatic duct. Resultant complications included recurrent cholangitis, bacteremia, and numerous hepatic abscesses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Rev Dis Primers
January 2025
European Reference Network for Rare Multisystemic Vascular Disease (VASCERN), HHT Rare Disease Working Group, Paris, France.
Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) is a vascular dysplasia inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and caused by loss-of-function pathogenic variants in genes encoding proteins of the BMP signalling pathway. Up to 90% of disease-causal variants are observed in ENG and ACVRL1, with SMAD4 and GDF2 less frequently responsible for HHT. In adults, the most frequent HHT manifestations relate to iron deficiency and anaemia owing to recurrent epistaxis (nosebleeds) or bleeding from gastrointestinal telangiectases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Med Case Rep
January 2025
Department of Cardiac Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité - Medical Heart Center of Charité and German Heart Institute Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
Introduction: Purulent bacterial pericarditis is a potentially fatal disease with mortality rates reaching 100% if left untreated.
Case Presentation: We present the case of a 33-year-old Caucasian male patient who developed cardiac tamponade, most likely caused by a pyogenic liver abscess communicating with the pericardium. Treatment with antibiotics, extended sepsis therapy, and drainage of the abscess led to a full recovery.
Surg Infect (Larchmt)
January 2025
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hedi-Chaker Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia.
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