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

Am J Emerg Med. 1997 Mar;15(2):152-4. doi: 10.1016/s0735-6757(97)90088-7.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bacteremia / etiology*
  • Clostridium Infections / etiology*
  • Clostridium perfringens*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / microbiology*
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / therapy
  • Hodgkin Disease / complications*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged