A suspected case of Clostridium perfringens sepsis with intravascular hemolysis after transhepatic arterial chemoembolization: a case report

Sepsis due to Clostridium perfringens, one of several clostridial species, is an important cause of massive intravascular hemolysis in patients with underlying malignancies [1, 2]. Although C. perfringens sepsis is rare, massive intravascular hemolysis due to C. perfringens sepsis can have a particularly rapid fatal clinical course [3]. A literature review showed that chronic liver diseases, immunosuppression, and presence of malignancies were risk factors for C. perfringens sepsis [4]. In particular, C. perfringens sepsis should always be considered in patients presenting with liver damage after chemo-embolic therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This case report focuses on findings characteristic of an intravascular hemolysis secondary to C. perfringens sepsis after transhepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE).

An 83-year-old Japanese man presented to our hospital because of a third recurrence of HCC. He had nonalcoholic steatohepatitis-related cirrhosis, and underwent radiofrequency ablation for a partial HCC of S4/S8 in his liver 3 years ago. Because abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple HCC of S4/S8 and S2 in his liver 1 year ago, he underwent TACE therapy with an emulsified mixture of Lipiodol (ethiodized oil) and Farmorubicin (epirubicin) together with gelatin sponge particles for multiple tumors. After the second TACE, abdominal CT revealed sufficient Lipiodol (ethiodized oil) retention and the inefficacy of this treatment. However, follow-up CT showed a HCC recurrence in the left lobe 2 months ago. His medical history included reflux esophagitis, hypertension, and pancreatic carcinoma and he underwent pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy approximately 5 years ago. His medications included amlodipine 5 mg, candesartan 4 mg, and esomeprazole 20 mg, all once daily. He was nondiabetic, did not smoke tobacco or drink alcohol, and had no history of any drug or food allergies. His family and social history were unremarkable. He appeared well on presentation. His body mass index was 26.2 kg/m², with no noticeable body weight changes. He had an axillary temperature of 36.0 °C, a heart rate of 70 beats/minute, and blood pressure of 118/52 mmHg, with an oxygen saturation of 98% on room air at admission. No conjunctival pallor, icterus, cyanosis, or spider nevi were detectable on physical examination. Cardiovascular and respiratory examinations indicated normal jugular venous pressure and heart sounds, with no detectable murmurs, and normal breath sounds, with no crackle or wheeze. There were no particular abnormal physical findings. Laboratory studies indicated elevated creatinine and α-fetoprotein levels (Table 1). Abdominal ultrasonography showed several hypoechoic masses in his liver; an abdominal plane CT showed multiple lesions with the greatest extent more than 40 mm in the left lobe of his liver (Fig. 1).

Owing to our patient’s high risk of liver abscess after TACE because of his medical history of pancreaticoduodenectomy, the treatment course was carefully decided after consultation with our patient and his family. He underwent TACE with a hepatic arterial infusion of 20 mg epirubicin, followed by 4 mL Lipiodol (ethiodized oil) (Fig. 2). A few days after undergoing the procedure, he was generally well except for mild symptoms attributed to postembolization syndrome. Despite antibiotic therapy (cefmetazole 3 grams daily) to prevent infection, he complained of fever, nausea, and hematuria on the sixth day after the procedure. He appeared unwell, severely jaundiced, and extremely restless. When his condition deteriorated, he had an axillary temperature of 39.0 °C, a heart rate of 110 beats/minute, and blood pressure of 90/40 mmHg. He presented with deterioration in hemoglobin levels and renal function, anemia, and a coagulation dysfunction. Furthermore, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin levels increased. Because elevated bilirubin and lactate dehydrogenase due to destruction of red blood cells showed hemolytic anemia, we performed a Coombs test for autoimmune hemolytic anemia to detect the presence of antibodies against red blood cells. However, the results for both the direct and indirect Coombs tests were negative. Based on our patient’s severe clinical course and laboratory data suggestive of hemolysis, intravascular hemolysis secondary to C. perfringens sepsis was suspected.

Because the embolic and necrotic lesion after TACE was suspected to be the focus of infection, we initiated antibiotic therapy (piperacillin/tazobactam 4.5 grams and clindamycin 600 mg) combined with surgical debridement. However, he died within 6 hours following unsuccessful cardiopulmonary resuscitation. An autopsy showed a 4-cm local, necrotic, hepatic tumor. The cut surface revealed a tumor with an internal spongiform appearance, which was a pseudocystic and partially necrotic lesion (Fig. 3). In addition, a diffuse spread of Gram-positive rods in multiple organs including the heart was histologically confirmed (Fig. 4). The culture obtained by fluid aspiration from the hepatic abscess revealed C. perfringens.

We reported a suspected case of massive intravascular hemolysis due to C. perfringens after TACE. In the present case, the role of C. perfringens was never established during the life of the patient. However, based on the severe clinical course and the culture obtained by fluid aspiration from the hepatic abscess at postmortem, intravascular hemolysis secondary to C. perfringens sepsis was suspected.

C. perfringens is an anaerobic Gram-positive rod that is naturally found in the intestines of humans and wild animals [4]. Although C. perfringens sepsis is rare, its association with massive hemolysis is well known, with death occurring within hours of presentation in patients similar to the present case [5‐7]. The alpha toxin produced by C. perfringens is primarily responsible for the disease pathogenesis. This toxin, which possesses phospholipase C and sphingomyelinase activities, can damage the structural integrity of the red blood cell membrane, leading to spherocytosis and subsequent hemolysis [8, 9].

A review of studies on hemolysis associated with C. perfringens in the literature showed that infection was attributed to immunosuppression related to ageing, chronic disease, and presence of malignancies [10]. As the infected focus was commonly the liver and gastrointestinal tract, suspecting C. perfringens sepsis after TACE for HCC in liver cirrhosis was reasonable. Therefore, C. perfringens sepsis should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of HCC in patients presenting with fever and hemolysis after the procedure.

According to a search of reports in PubMed using the medical subject terms “TACE/transarterial embolization (TAE),” “clostridial sepsis,” and/or “hemolysis,” there were five cases of intravascular hemolysis secondary to C. perfringens sepsis after TACE/TAE [11‐13] (Table 2). The median age of patients at presentation was 74 years (range, 70–83 years), with all five patients being male. Some patients had important risk factors for infection in the gastrointestinal tract, such as gastrectomy, or invasive endoscopic procedures, resulting in tissue damage. In particular, TACE for HCC after biliary reconstruction including pancreaticoduodenectomy should be avoided as much as possible because severe liver abscess could frequently occur. The median tumor diameter was 99 mm (range, 40–179 mm). In all cases of infection after TACE, epirubicin, doxorubicin, and oxaliplatin were administered, with epirubicin being the most frequently used.

The common symptoms of sepsis associated with hemolysis were hematuria, fever, and hypotension, which began within 1 week (range, 1–6 days) after the procedure. Although some reports did not mention laboratory data, the review showed a decrease in the median hemoglobin level from pre-procedure (11.6 mg/dL) to the occurrence of hemolysis (6.6 mg/dL). An increase in the median total bilirubin level from 1.15 mg/dL to 11.9 mg/dL, an increase in the median aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level from 73 to 1626 IU/L, and an increase in the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level from 110.5 to 1337 IU/L was observed at hemolysis associated with C. perfringens. Of note, a few cases showed that liver function enzyme levels at post-procedure were elevated compared with those at pre-procedure. Liver damage after chemo-embolic therapy for HCC may be a high risk factor for C. perfringens infection.

With respect to treatment, all the patients received antibiotic therapy, and two patients underwent surgery. The mortality rate was 60.0%, with a median time to death of 9.7 hours (range, 0–96 hours). In all fatal cases, patients already went into shock or died before a diagnosis and decision to operate could be made. In one patient who survived, surgical drainage in combination with appropriate antibiotic therapy may have improved survival. If there was a perceived infected focus such as a hepatic abscess, the recommended treatment included aggressive surgical drainage together with high-dose antibiotic therapy.