title: Splenic abscess associated with endocarditis in a patient on hemodialysis: a case report.
abstract: Splenic abscess is an unusual condition usually seen in immunocompromised patients or associated with intravenous drug abuses. Several conditions including trauma, immunodeficiency, corticosteroid and/or immunosuppressive therapy and diabetes mellitus have been listed under the predisposing factors for a splenic abscess. Splenic abscess in a patient on hemodialysis is a rare but life-threatening condition if not corrected. We describe a case of splenic abscess with bacterial endocarditis on maintenance hemodialysis. He had staphylococcal septicemia secondary to bacterial endocarditis at the mitral valve from the dialysis access-site infection. Although hematologic seeding from endocarditis has been the predisposing factor for splenic abscess, we postulate that access-site infections may predispose hemodialysis patients to splenic abscess. Splenic abscess may be considered as one of the causes when patients on hemodialysis develop unexplained fever.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 501-757, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Seok
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Seung Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Seong Kwon
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Soo Wan
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Nam Ho
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ki Chul
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed