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Abstract

Lemierre’s syndrome is a potentially fatal syndrome that is seen as a complication of orofarengeal infections and characterized by internal jugular vein thrombophlebitis, septic pulmoner embolism and other system embolism. Lemierre’s syndrome is usually caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum , and mortality can be reduced with early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment. In this case, Lemierre’s syndrome with subclavian vein involvement is shared and this case is different from previous reports.

Key words

Lemierre’s syndrome, subclavian vein thrombophlebitis, Fusobacterium necrophorum

Introduction

Septic thrombophlebitis of internal jugular vein is defined as Lemierre's syndrome [1,2]. This syndrome is caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum , gram negative anaerobic bacteria, found in oropharyngeal flora [3]. Lemierre Syndrome was first described by Andre Lemierre in 1936 [1]. Lemierre published a serie of 20 cases involving sepsis following pharyngeal infection. This complication, which was quite common before the use of antibiotics, was usually fatal and 18 of the 20 cases died [1,4]. After the discovery and widespread use of penicillin, this complication of diseases has become very rare and have been among the forgotten syndromes. However, in recent years, this syndrome has become more common due to decreased antibiotic use in tonsillopharyngeal infections. In the last 10 years, about 80 cases have been described in the literature and this number is quite high compared to past years. Possible reasons for this increase; less prescription of penicillins in the treatment of pharyngitis and tonsillitis and increased antibiotic resistance of fusobacterium [4-6]. In this case, an unusual case of Lemierre's syndrome in which ipsilateral subclavian vein thrombophlebitis accompanies with internal jugular vein thrombophlebitis following tooth extraction is presented.

Case report

Informed consent was obtained from patient before planning of this study. A 49-year-old male patient was examined at the ENT clinic because of swelling in the neck, fever at 39°C, fatigue, respiratory distress, and chest pain. In the anamnesis of the patient; complaints of pain, redness and swelling started on the same side of the neck after tooth extraction 5 days ago. Although the dentist started oral ampicillin treatment 3 days ago, complaints were increased, trismus of the patient was started. Extensive swelling was detected in the submandibular region and parotide region on the left side in the physical examination. Fever and sensitivity were determined throughout the jugular veins (Figure 1). The patient had edema completely covering the left arm and pain on his left shoulder. In the laboratory tests; the number of white blood cells in the whole blood count: 13,300 uL, the number of platelets 350000 uL, CRP: 8,32mg/L, erythrocyte sedimentation rate: 120mm/h. In the neck CT; there is a soft tissue thickening of the left masseter area, heterogeneous hyperdense area of 55x28 mm in medial pterygoid muscle extending from premaxillary space to the anterior buccal area (Figure 2).Thrombus material reaching 1 cm thick in 3.5 cm segment at the level of juguler vein opening to subclavian vein on the left side was reported in the neck doppler ultrasound. It was observed that the selected portions of the left subclavian venous were completely thrombosed. CT of the thorax showed pleural effusions in basal segments of both hemithorax and increased density in accordance with collapse-consolidation in adjacent basal segments. A number of parenchymal nodules measuring 12 mm in diameter were seen in the upper posterior and lateral of the lower lobe in the right lung.

Figure 1. Clinical apperance of patient with Lemierre's Syndrome

Figure 2. CT image of the neck

The patient was empirically treated with ampicillin-sulbactam (IV), metronidazole (IV) at 4x500 mg, subcutaneous enoxaparin sodium at 2x40mg and oral acetylsalicylic acid at a dose of 1x100mg in a dose of 4x1.5 gr. The purulent material and blood sample taken via punching were sent to the microbiology laboratory for bacterial culture and the result was reported as Fusobacterium necrophorum . The patient was referred to the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery to plan thrombectomy despite the clinical improvement at the end of four weeks of antibiotics and anticoagulant therapy.

Discussion

Fusobacterium necrophorum is found in the normal flora of oral cavity. Mucosal injury caused by another pathogenic microorganism facilitates the passage of fusobacterium to the parapharyngeal region [6]. Fusobacterium has some virulence factors like haemolysin, hemaglutinin, lipase, leukocidin, lipopolysaccharide [3]. Septic thrombophlebitis develops by local invasion of  venules of tonsils or lymphatic channels [2]. The same process occurs in odontogenic infections, tooth extraction story is the main cause of mucosal injury in this case. When the patient was evaluated in our clinic, the absence of flow of abscesses or fluids in the mouth and in the gums suggested that the infection was spread by the vascular route. Bacterial spread is hematologically by septic embolism most often to the lungs, but joints, central nervous system, liver or kidney involvement  are also described [3,7].

Clinical presentation of patients with Lemierre's syndrome can usually be with high fever, a one-week throat infection or another primary infection, fatigue, neck pain, tenderness and swelling throughout the sternocleidomastoid tract, dysphagia, and local abscesses. Septic embolism of the lungs occurs in 79-100% of the patients and associated cough, dyspnea, pleuritic chest pain and hemoptysis can be seen. Arthralgia occurs in 11-25% of patients [7].

Jaundice is observed approximately 11-49% of patients and liver dysfunction is observed in the majority of patients. Coagulopathies may be occured, but not significant oftenly [6,8]. In this case, all symptoms  except jaundice were present. In addition, the patient had trismus due to cellulitis and abscess formation in the parotid region. The most unique finding of this case was the presence of diffuse swelling completely covering the left arm of the patient due to left subclavian vein thrombophlebitis. There was not any case that describing Lemierre's syndrome with involvement of subclavian vein in our literature review.

The diagnosis of Lemierre's syndrome is based on clinical findings [9]. The first diagnosis that should be considered in a patient with  sepsis and internal juguler venous thrombosis occurring one week after the oropharyngeal infection is Lemierre's syndrome. Leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia, high C-reactive protein  are the main laboratory findings [3]. Multinodular infiltration of lung parenchyme and mild pleural effusion are seen on posterior-anterior chest X-ray typically [7,9]. Jugular vein thrombosis and cavitary lung lesions are observed in neck and thorax CT. Fusobacterium necrophorum can be isolated in blood and pus cultures [10].

Diseases such as infec2021 Copyright OAT. All rights reservarditis should be kept in mind in differential diagnosis [7]. Treatment should be directed against oral anaerobic and intravenous therapy should be given [4,9]. Fusobacterium necrophorum are 100% sensitive to metronidazole, ticarcillin-clavulanate, cefoxitin and imipenem. However, they are resistant to gentamicin and quinolones. In addition, resistance rates to penicillin and macrolides are 22% and 66%, respectively [9,11,12]. The duration of treatment varies from 9 days to 84 days according to the treatment response of the patient [9,13]. Main treatment is intravenous antibiotic treatment for 2-3 weeks, clinical improvement is achieved and then the course is completed with oral antibiotic treatment for 5-6 weeks [7,9,11]. Surgical drainage is recommended if parapharyngeal, peritonsillary abscess, empyema, septic arthritis or other cavitary lesions are present in patients who can not be improved despite proper antibiotic treatment. Surgical drainage was performed twice for the abscess in the parapharyngeal region in this case.

Anticoagulant therapy in Lemierre's syndrome is controversial [14]. Different approaches have been reported in the literature. In the majority of recent pediatric cases, anticoagulant therapy was used. However, the number of cases is rather limited and there are no controlled studies [15]. Despite treatment with the appropriate antimicrobial agent for 48-72 hours, no clinical improvement is observed, and anticoagulant therapy should be initiated in cases such as concomitant thrombophilia and progression of jugular thrombosis [9,14]. In this case anticoagulant therapy is started immediately because of thrombosis of jugular vein and subclavian vein and pulmonary symptoms. Clinical improvement is the main criteria for determining the duration of anticoagulant therapy. Occasionally, in some cases persistent thrombosis may require surgical excision.

Early diagnosis and appropriate antimicrobial agent should be emphasized in the early period. With early antimicrobial agent treatment mortality is 0-18%, whereas mortality after treatment on the fourth day is over 25%. However, in cases of fusobacterium meningitis, the mortality rate is approximately 30%.

Conclusion

We report a rare case of Lemierre's syndrome with internal juguler venous involvement and subclavian venous involvement, which differs from the previously reported case of Lemierre's syndrome. This case is presented together with a literature review.

References

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