Spontaneous gas gangrene in malignant lymphoma: an underreported complication?
We report a case of spontaneous gas gangrene (SGG), the most rapidly progressive form of clostridial infection, in a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). We review the literature and examine the association between these two entities. A 43-year-old man with NHL developed fatal C. perfringens-associated SGG and massive hemolysis during induction chemotherapy. Although patients with NHL usually have several risk factors of SGG, such as bowel involvement or neutropenia, only two cases have been described previously in detail. Common features of all reports are a delayed diagnosis and a fatal outcome. Awareness of this condition should result in prompt antibiotic therapy at the onset of typical presenting symptoms in any lymphoma patient, especially if risk factors are present.
Service of Haematology, Príncipe de Asturias University Hospital, University of Alcalá, Carretera Alcalá-Meco s/n, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain. jgarciasu@hupa.insalud.es
Julio
J
García-Suárez
Dunia
D
de Miguel
Isabel
I
Krsnik
Mohammed
M
Barr-Alí
Nuria
N
Hernanz
Carmen
C
Burgaleta
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D003016:Clostridium perfringens; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000209:etiology; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005738:Gas Gangrene / Q000150:complications*; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors