Acometimento pulmonar e articular secundário à síndrome de Lemierre: relato de caso e revisão de literatura / Pulmonary and joint involvement secondary to Lemierre syndrome: case report and literature review

A síndrome de Lemierre caracteriza-se por uma rara entidade que gera tromboflebite da veia jugular interna e embolismo séptico em história da infecção recente da orofaringe, além de sinais radiológicos e isolamento de patógenos anaeróbicos, principalmente Fusobacterium necrophorum. Relatamos o caso de uma paciente do sexo feminino, 13 anos de idade, com histórico de carcinoma de nasofaringe associado ao vírus Epstein-Barr (estadiamento T4N2M0), submetida a procedimentos cirúrgicos e quimiorradioterapia. Iniciou com queixa de mialgia intensa, diplopia, lesões infectadas em membros e choque séptico. Por meio de exames de ultrassonografia cervical com Doppler colorido e tomografia computadorizada de pescoço com contraste endovenoso, foram identificados trombos intraluminais na veia jugular interna, além de trombos sépticos pulmonares, por meio da tomografia computadorizada de tórax. Posteriormente, ainda evoluiu com artrite piogênica coxofemoral esquerda. Foi isolada, por hemocultura, a bactéria Klebsiella pneumoniae Carpemenase, e o tratamento se deu pela associação entre vancomicina, amicacina, meropenem, metronidazol e anfotericina B. Conclui-se que, após o diagnóstico de SL e, embora com múltiplas complicações e diagnóstico tardio, a paciente encontra-se bem e assintomática, além do relato comprovar a dificuldade diagnóstica e de seu tratamento

Lemierre's syndrome is a rare condition that leads to thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein and septic embolism following recent oropharyngeal infection, being characterized by radiological signs and isolation of anaerobic pathogens, especially Fusobacterium necrophorum. We report the case of a 13-year-old female patient with history of nasopharyngeal carcinoma associated with Epstein-Barr virus (T4N2M0 staging), who underwent surgical procedures and chemoradiotherapy. Her initial complaint was severe myalgia, diplopia, infected limb injuries, and septic shock. Cervical color Doppler ultrasound and computed tomography scan of the neck with intravenous contrast showed intraluminal thrombi in the internal jugular vein, and chest computed tomography showed pulmonary septic thrombi. Subsequently, she progressed with left coxofemoral pyogenic arthritis. The bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae Carpemenase was isolated in blood culture, and the patient was treated with the association of vancomycin, amikacin, meropenem, metronidazole, and amphotericin B. It is concluded that, despite the multiple complications and late diagnosis, the patient is well and asymptomatic after the diagnosis of Lemierre's syndrome; in addition, the report proves the difficulty of diagnosis and treatme

Importance of blood cultures to aid the diagnosis of Lemierre's syndrome.

This is a case report of Lemierre's syndrome, a septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein (IJV) usually preceded by pharyngitis and bacteraemia with an anaerobic organism. Fusobacterium necrophorum is ananaerobic Gram-negative bacillus and is the most common organism reported to cause Lemierre's syndrome which usually occurs one to three weeks post pharyngitis or oropharyngeal surgery. A 21-year-old patient presented with signs of sepsis and a history of sore throat, fever, and tender cervical lymph nodes. Blood cultures grew F. necrophorum and Computed Tomography (CT) showed a filling defect in the left retromandibular vein and thrombosis in the left internal jugular vein (IJV) consistent with Lemierre's syndrome. This is an uncommon condition which normally occurs in young individuals and diagnosis is often delayed.