Renal histological findings in a patient with acute renal injury associated with purpura fulminans: a case report / Achados histológicos renais em paciente com injúria renal aguda associada à purpura fulminans: relato de caso

ABSTRACT Introduction: Purpura fulminans (PF) is a rapid progressive thrombotic disease in which hemorrhagic infarction of the skin and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) occurs. It can potentially cause acute kidney injury (AKI). However, there is no description in the medical literature of renal histological findings of PF. Case report: A 20-year-old female patient, previously healthy, was admitted to the emergency department (ED) with odynophagia, fever, generalized myalgia and anuria, which evolved with the appearance of purpuric plaques on the face and limbs. She required dialysis on admission. Laboratorial tests showed anemia, leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, and elevation of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH). The purpuric lesions became bullous with ruptures and then necrotic and erosive, reaching the dermis, subcutaneous tissue and musculature, until bone exposure. There was no improvement with initial antibiotic therapy aimed at the treatment of meningococcemia. Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and PF were then suspected. The patient remained in daily dialysis, requiring plasmapheresis. After sustained improvement of the thrombocytopenia, she underwent renal biopsy, which was not compatible with TMA, characterizing possible PF. A complete recovery of the renal function was achieved and cutaneous sequels were treated with grafts. Conclusion: When thrombotic and hemorrhagic phenomena overlap, obtaining a renal biopsy can be difficult. However, in the presented case, the biopsy allowed the exclusion of AKI caused by TMA, presenting for the first time, histological findings compatible with PF.

RESUMO Introdução: Purpura Fulminans (PF) é uma doença trombótica de rápida progressão, com infarto hemorrágico da pele e coagulação intravascular disseminada (CIVD). É potencialmente causadora de injúria renal aguda (IRA). Porém, não há descrição na literatura médica dos achados histológicos renais causados por PF. Relato de caso: Mulher, 20 anos, previamente hígida, hospitalizada por odinofagia, febre, mialgia generalizada e anúria, evoluiu com aparecimento de placas purpúricas em face e membros. Necessitou de hemodiálise (HD) já na admissão. Exames laboratoriais mostravam anemia, leucocitose, plaquetopenia e elevação de desidrogenase lática. As lesões purpúricas tornaram-se bolhosas com rompimento e progressão para necrose, se aprofundaram, atingindo derme, subcutâneo e musculatura, até a exposição óssea. Não houve melhora com antibioticoterapia inicial voltada para tratamento de meningococemia. Suspeitou-se, então, de microangiopatia trombótica (MAT) e PF. A paciente permaneceu em HD diária e necessitou também de plasmaférese, após melhora sustentada da plaquetopenia, foi submetida à biópsia renal, que não foi compatível com MAT, possivelmente caracterizando PF. Houve recuperação completa da função renal e as sequelas cutâneas foram tratadas com enxerto. Conclusão: Em casos nos quais os fenômenos trombóticos e hemorrágicos se sobrepõem, a obtenção da biópsia renal se torna difícil. Neste caso, a biópsia permitiu excluir IRA causada por MAT e mostrar, pela primeira vez, achados compatíveis com PF.

Renal histological findings in a patient with acute renal injury associated with purpura fulminans: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Purpura fulminans (PF) is a rapid progressive thrombotic disease in which hemorrhagic infarction of the skin and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) occurs. It can potentially cause acute kidney injury (AKI). However, there is no description in the medical literature of renal histological findings of PF. CASE REPORT: A 20-year-old female patient, previously healthy, was admitted to the emergency department (ED) with odynophagia, fever, generalized myalgia and anuria, which evolved with the appearance of purpuric plaques on the face and limbs. She required dialysis on admission. Laboratorial tests showed anemia, leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, and elevation of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH). The purpuric lesions became bullous with ruptures and then necrotic and erosive, reaching the dermis, subcutaneous tissue and musculature, until bone exposure. There was no improvement with initial antibiotic therapy aimed at the treatment of meningococcemia. Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and PF were then suspected. The patient remained in daily dialysis, requiring plasmapheresis. After sustained improvement of the thrombocytopenia, she underwent renal biopsy, which was not compatible with TMA, characterizing possible PF. A complete recovery of the renal function was achieved and cutaneous sequels were treated with grafts. CONCLUSION: When thrombotic and hemorrhagic phenomena overlap, obtaining a renal biopsy can be difficult. However, in the presented case, the biopsy allowed the exclusion of AKI caused by TMA, presenting for the first time, histological findings compatible with PF.

Estudo de incidência de sepse e fatores prognósticos em pacientes queimados / Sepsis incidence study and prognostic factors in burn patients

OBJETIVOS: Identificar a incidência de sepse em pacientes com queimaduras hospitalizados nos leitos de terapia intensiva de um Centro de Tratamento de Queimados, bem como fatores prognósticos associados com a mortalidade. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo na unidade de Terapia Intensiva de um Centro de Tratamento de Queimados. A amostra foi de conveniência, sendo analisados todos os registros de pacientes adultos queimados internados consecutivamente no período de janeiro de 2011 a dezembro de 2012. Foram coletados dados clínicos, do diagnóstico da sepse e da queimadura. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados 171 pacientes no estudo, com média de idade de 41,2 anos (DP=15,0), sendo 70,8% do gênero masculino. A média da área de superfície corporal queimada foi 28,1% (DP=17,8). Desses pacientes, 115 (67,2%) apresentaram pelo menos um episódio de sepse clinicamente comprovada. Ao avaliar os fatores de risco para morte no desfecho hospitalar, a idade, o gênero feminino e a área de superfície corporal queimada foram as variáveis clínicas que se associaram com mortalidade. CONCLUSOES: O diagnóstico de sepse apresentou frequência elevada e tendência à associação com aumento de mortalidade. Os fatores de risco para morte identificados foram as variáveis clínicas: idade, gênero feminino e área de superfície corporal queimada.

OBJECTIVES: To identify sepsis incidence in hospitalized burn patients admitted to intensive care unit of a burn center, as well as prognostic factors associated with mortality. METHODS: A restrospective study was conducted in the Intensive Care Unit of a Burn Center. A convenience sample was performed of all clinical records of patients consecutively admitted from January 2011 to December 2012. Clinical data were collected along with data about sepsis diagnosis, burn injury and prognostic scores. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy one patients were analyzed. They were predominantly male (70.8%) with mean age of 41.2 years (SD=15.0). Mean total burned surface area was 28.1% (SD=17.8). One hundred and fifteen patients (67.2%) had at least one episode of sepsis clinically documented. Evaluating risk factors for death at hospital discharge, the variables age, female gender and total burned surface area were associated with increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Sepsis diagnosis presented high frequency and a tendency to be associated with increased mortality. Age, female gender and total burned surface area were the clinical variables associated with increased risk for death.