Fatal septicemia in a patient with cerebral lymphoma and an Amplatzer septal occluder: a case report

The Amplatzer septal occluder (SO) (AGA Medical Corporation, Plymouth, MN, USA) is a frequently used device for percutaneous closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD). Complications of occluders include thrombosis and embolism, dislocation, cardiac perforation, and, rarely, infection [1‐5]. We report the fatal course of septicemia in a patient who had already survived an SO-related thromboembolism two years previously [6].

Our patient was a 72-year-old Caucasian woman who had a hemodynamically relevant ASD and who at the age of 65 years had received a 22 mm SO because of increasing exertional dyspnea. She did not complain of arrhythmia, and the results of a coronary angiography were normal. The further course was complicated by a non-Hodgkin lymphoma and probably by chemotherapy-induced Evans syndrome. Symptomatic atrial fibrillation was diagnosed 58 months after implantation, and a therapy with bisoprolol and acetylsalicylic acid was started. Between 56 and 59 months after implantation, a left-sided SO thrombosis developed, as demonstrated by computed tomography [6]. The SO thrombosis led to ischemic stroke and peripheral embolism, necessitating surgical embolectomy in all extremities and oral anticoagulation (OAC) with phenprocoumon. Complete disappearance of the SO thrombus was demonstrated by transesophageal echocardiography five months later. OAC was continued because of atrial fibrillation and a serological indication for hypercoagulability (lupus anticoagulants, elevation of homocysteine, and factor VIII).

At the age of 72 years, vertigo, headache, and visual field defects occurred. Despite normal results of a cerebrospinal fluid examination, relapsing lymphoma was suspected on the basis of cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. Oncologists prescribed dexamethasone 32 mg/day. Symptoms regressed and MRI findings improved. Four weeks after the initiation of glucocorticoids, excoriations on both legs developed and antibiotic therapy with cefazolin 6 g/day was given for 10 days. Two weeks later, fever occurred, and sulbactam/ampicillin 3 g/day was given for nine days. Glucocorticoid therapy was continued. Swabs taken from the excoriations and one of five blood cultures were positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Pseudomonas aeruginosa grew on a further excoriation swab. Since MRSA was found in only one blood culture, prolonged antibiotic therapy was deemed not to be indicated. Unfortunately, endocarditis was not considered, and she was discharged without echocardiography. Four weeks later, she fell, developed a hematoma, and was re-hospitalized because of a hemorrhagic erysipela. MRSA grew on a swab from the erysipela. P. aeruginosa grew in blood cultures and on excoriation swabs of the legs. Linezolid 1200 mg/day and sulbactam/ampicillin 3 g/day were started. This time, endocarditis was considered, and transesophageal echocardiography showed no thrombus or vegetations on the SO but was highly suggestive of an aortic valve vegetation (Figure 1). Our patient died three days later because of septicemia and multi-organ failure. An autopsy was not performed.

The pathogenesis can be explained as follows: Skin lesions developed as a side effect of glucocorticoids, and this also favored immunosuppression. The infectious agents that lastly caused septicemia, multi-organ failure, death, and probably endocarditis either entered via the skin or may have derived from the SO, although the evidence for the latter assumption is lacking.

Thrombus formation and infection are rare complications of ASD occluders, and only six reports of device-related infection have been published to date [1‐5]. Both thrombi and vegetations on occluders present on echocardiography as shaggy masses typically with multiple mobile strands. Although in our patient these findings were not found on echocardiography, the SO might have served as a nidus for the bacteria. This hypothesis is substantiated by histological findings of explanted SOs, showing a chronic inflammatory reaction inside the occluder [7]. In our patient, who already had experienced an unusually late SO thrombosis, delayed endothelialization, probably induced by chemotherapy or glucocorticoids, and thus propensity for bacterial colonization might have occurred. Unfortunately, these considerations are only speculative since no pathologic examination or post-mortem cultures of the device have been carried out. Had echocardiography been performed earlier and the aortic valve vegetations detected, cardiac surgery, including inspection and eventually removal of the SO, would have been a therapeutic option. Such a procedure has been chosen in reported cases of endocarditis after occluder implantation [1‐5, 7].

This case shows that, in patients with SO and infections, clinicians should have a high suspicion for endocarditis. Echocardiography should be performed early and repeated if there is bacteremia. To prevent a fatal outcome, explantation of the SO should be considered, especially in patients who already had SO-related problems that suggested delayed endothelialization. Post-mortem investigations, including bacteriologic studies, should be carried out in patients with SO in order to assess the focal and global long-term effects of these devices.

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient's relatives for publication of this case report and accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.