Lemierre’s syndrome causing profound thrombocytopenia and respiratory failure: a case report

Lemierre’s syndrome, also termed the forgotten disease due to its rarity, is characterized by oropharyngeal infection, most frequently caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum. This leads to internal jugular thrombosis and septic thrombophlebitis resulting in multiple metastatic foci [1, 2]. Lemierre’s syndrome causes thrombocytopenia due to the hemagglutinin produced by the anaerobic Fusobacterium bacteria which causes aggregation of platelets. Current literature does not report the extent of thrombocytopenia or an effect of Lemierre’s syndrome on other cell lines. Here we describe a case of Lemierre’s syndrome in a previously healthy young man who presented with profound thrombocytopenia (platelet value < 5000/uL) and leukopenia who subsequently required intubation for respiratory failure.

A previously healthy 33-year-old African American gentleman presented to the emergency department with a 7-day history of sore throat, nausea, vomiting, and body aches with a 2-day history of dyspnea and hemoptysis. Initial labs revealed severe thrombocytopenia (platelets < 5000/uL), leukopenia (WBC 2.1 × 10^3/uL), and elevated creatinine to 5.16 mg/dL (baseline unknown at presentation). Patient was initially tachycardia and tachypnic ranging from 22 to 35 breaths per minute. A CT chest, abdomen, and pelvis showed bilateral pulmonary parenchymal infiltrates. The patient was started on treatment for presumed community acquired pneumonia. Thrombocytopenia and leukopenia were further evaluated with a bone marrow biopsy and lab studies which were negative for hemolysis or hypoproliferation. Soon after admission, the patient intubated for respiratory distress. Within 24 h of admission, the patient became febrile to 102.9 F and antibiotics were broadened. Blood cultures returned positive for F. necrophorum antibiotics were optimized to piperacillin-tazobactam. After 5 days of mechanical ventilation, the patient was extubated. His creatinine improved with fluid administration to 2.35 mg/dL at the time of extubation and a CT neck was revealed an internal jugular vein thrombosis and a CT chest showed cavitary changes consistent with septic emboli (Fig. 1 & Fig. 2). Prior to finishing IV antibiotics, the patient left against medical advice. His creatinine at time of discharge was 0.87 mg/dL his platelets were 331/μL and his white blood cell count improved to 5.3 K/uL (Table 1). Further, as the patient improved from a laboratory standpoint, he did not receive anticoagulation as the cause of the thrombosis was secondary to the infection. The patient has not followed up with the health system to date.

Lemierre’s syndrome is characterized by a bacterial oropharyngeal infection, most frequently with Fusobacterium necrophorum, and internal jugular vein septic thrombophlebitis leading to septicemia with multiple metastatic foci [1‐3]. This typically presents in young patients with a median age of 21 (Q1-Q3: 17–33) with no prior comorbidities [2]. Making the severity of illness alarming in these young patients.

Metastatic foci in Lemierre’s syndrome cause deleterious complications in other organs. Emboli most frequently spread to the lung, with reports of 71% of patients [2‐4]. It has been reported that the most common site of metastasis with Lemierre’s syndrome is the lungs, in fact pulmonary emboli can occur as early as the first day of septicemia [5]. Less commonly, complications such as ARDS, as in our patient, may arise [4]. The cause of our patient’s kidney failure may be secondary poor perfusion of the kidney as the renal in nature as it improved with fluid administration.

In Lemierre’s syndrome, patients’ lab work frequently reveals thrombocytopenia, most likely due to the production of hemagglutinin and lipopolysaccharides by F. necrophorum [2, 5, 6]. The lipopolysaccharides content of F. necrophorum is higher than other gram-negative bacteria which is the main attribute to why thrombocytopenia occurs in patients with a F. necrophorum infection [6]. To our knowledge, no reports exist in the literature of patients with Lemierre’s syndrome presenting with leukopenia and the degree of thrombocytopenia seen in our case. However, it may be more likely that the leukopenia was caused by a hemagglutination process like that which causes thrombocytopenia. To our knowledge this is the first case of Lemierre’s syndrome where multiple lines decreased.

Lemierre’s syndrome should be considered in patients presenting with severe thrombocytopenia and history of pharyngeal infection. While multiple parameters were affected in our patient, white blood cell count, platelets, and creatinine, with antibiotic treatment, our patient completely recovered what could have been a fatal disease. As in our case, patients can rarely present with severe respiratory distress requiring intubation. Lemierre’s syndrome should not be overlooked as it is curable with antibiotics. Lemierre’s syndrome should consistently be in the differential diagnosis for sepsis in previously healthy individuals with new onset thrombocytopenia with or without leukopenia. Further, there may be additional effects of Lemierre’s syndrome on the renal system and other blood lines that are not recognized routinely.