Splenic abscess associated with endocarditis in a patient on hemodialysis: a case report.
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.
Kim
Hyun Soo
HS
Department of Internal Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju 501-757, Korea.
Cho
Min Seok
MS
Hwang
Seung Hwan
SH
Ma
Seong Kwon
SK
Kim
Soo Wan
SW
Kim
Nam Ho
NH
Choi
Ki Chul
KC
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