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Lemierre’s Syndrome with Severe Thrombocytopenia without Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation: A Case Report and Literature Review

Hira Chaudhary, Srinath Ramaswamy, Yusra Qaiser, Unaiza Zaman, Regina Miller, Samy I. McFarlane*

Department of Medicine, SUNY-Downstate Health Sciences University, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11203, USA

Abstract: Lemierre’s syndrome (LS) is an uncommon clinical entity characterized by a primary oropharyngeal infection with subsequent septic thrombophlebitis. Diagnosis is made with clinical or radiographic evidence of internal jugular vein (IJV) thrombosis, along with metastatic focus such as lungs or joints. Life threatening thrombocytopenia in Lemierre’s syndrome in the absence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is rarely reported. We present a case of a 41-year-old woman with Lemierre’s syndrome caused by beta-hemolytic group C streptococci and fusobacterium species manifested as worsening pharyngitis, IJV thrombosis, and complicated by severe thrombocytopenia.

Keywords: Lemierre’s syndrome, thrombocytopenia, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP), Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

Received November 26, 2020; Revised December 30, 2020; Accepted January 13, 2021

Citation: Hira Chaudhary, Srinath Ramaswamy, Yusra Qaiser, Unaiza Zaman, Regina Miller, Samy I. McFarlane, Lemierre’s Syndrome with Severe Thrombocytopenia without Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation: A Case Report and Literature Review. American Journal of Medical Case Reports, 9 (3). 158-162. January 2021. doi:10.12691/ajmcr-9-3-7

1. Introduction

The two most common bacteria associated with post anginal sepsis are Fusobacterium necrophorum and Fusobacterium nucleatum. They are part of normal flora in the upper respiratory tract and GI tract. About 10% of the cases are from Bacteroides, Eikenella, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species [1]. An important contributing factor is the history of molar extraction or sore throat [1]. The virulence of Fusobacterium is enhanced in the presence of a concomitant infectious agent such as beta-hemolytic group C streptococci in our case which acts in synergy to debilitate host defense systems [2]. GCS is prevalent in less than 5% in adult pharyngitis patients but causes severe throat infections [1]. The hematological manifestations are mainly limited to anemia, suppurative thrombophlebitis, and metastatic septic emboli from consumptive coagulopathy [3,4]. In this case report, we provide some insight into unusual presentation of Lemierre disease that should be taken into account when severe thrombocytopenia is seen in a patient with a history of sore throat or neck pain. We discuss the major mechanisms of severe thrombocytopenia including platelet consumption at IJV thrombosis site, sepsis induced platelet aggregation/activation, DIC, secondary hemophagocytosis, and/or secondary immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

2. Case Presentation

A 41-year old African American female presented with fever, sore throat, headache, dysphagia, and malaise for one week. She described the headache as left sided, stabbing, 10/10 in intensity, radiating to the front of her neck and shoulder, with associated photophobia. She endorsed progressive dysphagia to both solids and liquids over one week. Other medical problems included intermittent asthma. Family history was remarkable for leukemia in her aunt and father. She denied toxic habits and IV drug abuse. Originally from Guyana, she had migrated a few years ago to the US and endorsed recent travel to Upstate New York to visit her daughter at college. At presentation, she was a-febrile, in distress due to pain, with tachycardia to 138 bpm, BP of 90/65 mm Hg, and respiratory rate of 18 per minute. IV fluids were initiated, and pain was managed appropriately. Physical exam revealed bilateral conjunctival erythema, left submandibular tenderness without palpable lymph nodes, and neck stiffness with restriction of movement. Systemic exam was unremarkable and focal neurological signs were absent.

Initial lab studies showed leukocytosis of 14000/μL with 5% bands, hemoglobin of 11.2 g/dL, severe thrombocytopenia 10,000/μL, and normal platelet morphology on peripheral smear. Her baseline platelet count was 250,000/μL. Elevated ferritin (797.8 ng/mL), triglyceride level 228 mg/dL, total bilirubin (1.1 mg/dL), and direct bilirubin (0.9 m/dL) were noted with normal LFTs. Prothrombin time (15.6 sec), INR (1.3), and fibrinogen level (590 mg/dL) with normal d-dimer (< 0.5 mg/L) and activated partial thromboplastin time (18.3 sec). No bleeding manifestations were observed.

IV ceftriaxone and vancomycin were initiated for clinical diagnosis of sepsis with possible bacterial meningitis, and doxycycline for coverage of anaplasmosis, due to recent travel. We could not perform a lumbar puncture given the degree of thrombocytopenia. Non-contrast CT head was unremarkable. Blood culture was positive for Group C streptococcus and Micromonas micros (peptostreptococcus) and Fusobacterium sp. (nucleatum/necrophorum)- indicative of a classic polymicrobial oral source of infection. Bacterial throat culture was negative for group C streptococcus likely due to broad spectrum antibiotic use since admission. Patient’s neck pain was initially attributed to deep cervical adenitis; however, due to increasing pain and opioid requirement on day 3, a CT neck with contrast was performed, revealing thrombosis of the left internal jugular vein (LIJV) (Figure 1a). A diagnosis of Lemierre syndrome was made due to sterile site isolation of Fusobacterium species and GCS (blood culture) and IJV thrombosis on imaging.

On Day 4-5, improvement in platelet count (57,000/μL) was observed but she continued to be febrile. Per blood culture sensitivity, IV ceftriaxone was continued, and IV metronidazole was added; vancomycin and doxycycline were discontinued. A CT chest with contrast showed septic emboli to lungs (Figure 2a). Trans-thoracic echocardiogram showed no valvular vegetations. MRI brain with MR venogram confirmed LIJV thrombosis with no dural sinus involvement (Figure 1b) but showed left tonsillar enhancement suggestive of acute tonsillitis. Anticoagulation could not be initiated at this time due to persistent thrombocytopenia. Further workup at admission for other etiologies revealed negative results for HIV, Hepatitis B and C serologies, respiratory viral panel, monospot test, and rapid strep test. Peripheral smear showed no Malaria or Babesia parasites. Anaplasma phagocytophilum IgM and IgG, CMV IgM, and EBV VCA IgM serologies were negative. ADAMTS13 levels, ANA, ds-DNA, ANCA screen, MPO and proteinase-3 Ab were also negative.

Figure 1. a) CT soft-tissues neck with contrast demonstrating filling defect of the left internal jugular vein with gas shadows and tissue edema (red arrows). b) Repeat CT scan on Day 10 of antibiotics showing resolution of gas shadows and edema with persistent venous filling defect (yellow arrow) and cavitation of embolic nodule in the left lung (green arrow)

Figure 2. a) CT chest with contrast demonstrating bilateral nodular lung opacities due to septic emboli. b) Repeat CT scan on Day 10 for recurrent fever showing bilateral consolidation, pleural effusions, and cavitation of septic emboli

By Day 7-8 of antibiotic regimen, her fever, neck pain, and platelet count (247,000/μL) improved significantly. Serial blood cultures were negative. At this time, a drop-in hemoglobin was noted (7.7-9 g/dL). No bleeding was observed, and coagulation parameters and lab markers of hemolysis were within normal ranges. Reticulocyte index was found to be low (0.41). Unfractionated heparin infusion was initiated for IJV thrombosis and transitioned to low molecular weight heparin at therapeutic dosing. After transient improvement, she was noted to have recurrent fever spikes on Day 8-9. Repeat blood cultures were negative and repeat CT imaging showed persistent filling defects in the IJV but with significantly reduced edema and gas shadows (Figure 1). Repeat contrast chest CT showed cavitation of prior embolic nodules (Figure 1b, Figure 2b) with marked consolidation and pleural effusions. An empirical course of IV piperacillin-tazobactam and vancomycin was then started, with rapid resolution of fever. Patient was clinically stable and received a total of 14 days of antibiotics. She was discharged home to continue full-dose anticoagulation with Eliquis and an oral antibiotic course of amoxicillin-clavulanate for 4 weeks with appropriate outpatient follow up.

3. Discussion

The pathophysiologic mechanisms of drastic thrombocytopenia in Lemierre’s syndrome are not fully understood. While there have been cases with mild thrombocytopenia, instances of decreased platelet count to 10,000/uL from a baseline of 250,000/uL- as seen with our patient- are rare. There are a few experimental observations discussed in literature that possibly highlight the pathophysiological basis of consumption coagulopathy. Platelet aggregation in platelet rich plasma has been demonstrated by virulent strains of F. necrophorum [4]. Aerobic gram-negative organisms with LPS, which typically cause endotoxin-mediated sepsis, primarily depend upon a complement mediated LPS- platelet interaction which requires C3 fixation to the LPS, followed by immune adherence of platelets to fixed C3. This results in reactive lysis of platelets and platelets factor 3 (PF3) activation [5]. Fusobacterium, being a gram-negative anaerobe, also has a classical lipopolysaccharide endotoxin (LPS) that could promote factor XII activation in the absence of an intact complement system [2,4]. Factor XII or Hageman factor is the initiating step of the intrinsic coagulation pathway, which along with other virulence factors such as hemagglutinin contribute to septic thrombus formation [3]. The resultant platelet consumption at the site of jugular thrombosis exacerbates thrombocytopenia [3]. Furthermore, mucosal invasion of bacteria results in release of hemolysin, which reduces oxygen supply and favors growth of anaerobes by destroying erythrocytes through lysis. [8] IJV thrombophlebitis is initiated either by the direct extension of primary infection through the parapharyngeal space or by vascular or lymphatic spread from the peritonsillar space [9]. Certain genetic polymorphisms related to coagulation cascade in Toll-Like receptor 5, tissue factor 60, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene are also known to play a role in its pathology [2].

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a recognized complication of Lemierre’s syndrome resulting in thrombocytopenia, but in our case, the disparity between normal coagulation times and severe thrombocytopenia indicate other possible mechanisms. One of such hypotheses is acquired hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) that has been reported once as an atypical cause of severe thrombocytopenia in fusobacterium Lemierre's syndrome [6]. It occurs secondary to a strong immunological response due to underlying malignancy or systemic infections [7]. The underlying pathology involves uncontrolled activity of histiocytic systems against hematological cell lines diagnosed with biopsy samples of bone marrow, spleen or lymph nodes [7]. Although our patient did not get a bone marrow biopsy and fulfill the diagnostic criteria but had 4 out of 8 clinical features. Her ferritin was more than 500 with hypertriglyceridemia. Reticulocyte index was 0.41 suggesting hypo proliferation, that could be either from sepsis induced marrow suppression or presumed hemophagocytosis. Therefore, screening for secondary HLH in the setting of non-resolving sepsis, persistent fevers, or cytopenias, with less invasive measures initially like ferritin, triglyceride levels, and molecular analysis may be a smart approach.

An alternate explanation for drop in platelets could be secondary immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) triggered by beta-hemolytic group-C streptococci infection as a result of an inflammatory cascade [3]. The theory of an autoantibody mediated response is supported by the observation that the peripheral smear showed no platelet clumping or morphological abnormalities, and the fact that platelet count was affected more than the other cell lines.

Table 1. Reports of severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count<30, 000/μL) in Lemierre syndrome

We presented an unusual case of Lemierre’s disease with severe thrombocytopenia in the absence of over clinical features of DIC. The progression of thrombocytopenia during a septic episode is a significant event, with the degree of coagulation activation being related to the severity of the illness. All patients with sepsis especially secondary to bacterial infections have underlying coagulation activation and disordered clotting irrespective of the overt features of DIC. The expected mortality rate is higher in DIC. The exact mechanisms related to lemierre's syndrome associated with severe thrombocytopenia remain unclear, but it may represent a multifactorial phenomenon involving consumptive coagulopathy, marrow suppression, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and/or secondary immune thrombocytopenia.

Acknowledgements

This work is supported, in part, by the efforts of Dr. Moro O. Salifu M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., M.A.C.P., Professor and Chairman of Medicine through NIH Grant number S21MD012474.

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