Abstract

Lemierre’s syndrome is a life-threatening disease following oropharyngeal infections. A thirteen-year-old female patient presented with fatigue, facial edema, and shortness of breath. In the computerized tomographic examination, an abscessed area extends from the left temporal region to the bilateral submandibular area and the submental area from the para calvarial area. The right jugular vein calibration was thin and there was an intraluminal thrombus in the right innominate vein. The patient, who developed respiratory failure and whose mouth opening could not be achieved due to the abscess, was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit after an emergency tracheostomy was performed. Thoracostomy and pericardiotomy were performed due to pleural and pericardial effusion. Lemierre’s syndrome was diagnosed because of this clinical picture, which includes sepsis and jugular vein thrombosis after oropharyngeal infection. Early diagnosis, initiation of appropriate antibiotics and abscess drainage are important for Lemierre syndrome. A timely and multidisciplinary approach will be lifesaving.

Case Report

A thirteen-year-old female patient presented with fatigue, facial edema, and shortness of breath. She had been treated with intravenous ceftriaxone and clindamycin for five days and had complained of pain in her left upper molar for ten days before admission.

On admission, the patient was in poor general condition, she had tachypnea (70/min) and left hemiface edema. Laboratory tests were: Hemoglobin 9.7 g/dL, leukocyte count 26,420/mm³ (neutrophils 85%), platelet count 729,000/mm³, and C-reactive protein 191 mg/L. On computed tomography of the patient’s brain, cervical spine, and chest, an abscessed area extended from the left temporal region to the bilateral submandibular area and the submental area from the para-calvarial area. The abscess has opened to the floor of the mouth and the right aryepiglottic fold was obliterated. The collection area extended inferiorly on the right, deviated the trachea to the left, and passed between the jugular vein and the carotid artery toward the mediastinal area (Figure 1). The calibration of the right jugular vein was thin and there was an intraluminal thrombus in the right innominate vein. There was a 2.5 cm pericardial effusion and a 6 cm pleural effusion in the right hemithorax with an associated atelectatic lung area. The patient, who developed respiratory failure and was unable to open his mouth due to the abscess, was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit after an emergency tracheostomy was performed. An echocardiogram showed normal left ventricular ejection fraction and pericardial effusion. Empirical antibiotic therapy was a combination of piperacillin-tazobactam, vancomycin, and metronidazole. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment was given for sepsis. Colchicine and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were initiated for pericardial effusion. Inotropic therapy (noradrenaline) was started for hypotension and discontinued during follow-up. Tube thoracostomy and tube pericardiotomy were performed due to pleural and pericardial effusion. The pleural fluid was exudate according to biochemical criteria. The patient was evaluated for mediastinitis and surgical abscess drainage was performed for the abscess in the mediasten. Streptococcus mitis and Candida dubliniens were isolated from pleural fluid culture and treatment was revised as meropenem, vancomycin, metronidazole, and caspofungin. Lemierre’s syndrome was diagnosed because of this clinical status, which includes sepsis and jugular vein thrombosis after oropharyngeal infection. She was anticoagulated with enoxaparin sodium. Immunoglobulin levels and lymphocyte subgroup analysis were normally concluded before IVIG treatment. Colchicine and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were initiated for pericardial effusion. Inotropic therapy was started for hypotension and discontinued during follow-up. Tube thoracostomy and tube pericardiotomy were performed for pleural and pericardial effusion. The pleural fluid was evaluated as exudative according to biochemical criteria. The patient was evaluated for mediastinitis and surgical abscess drainage was performed for the mediastinal abscess. Streptococcus mitis and Candida dubliniens were isolated from the pleural fluid culture and treatment was changed to meropenem, vancomycin, metronidazole, and caspofungin. Lemierre’s syndrome was diagnosed based on this clinical status, which includes sepsis and jugular vein thrombosis after oropharyngeal infection. She was anticoagulated with enoxaparin sodium. Immunoglobulin levels and lymphocyte subgroup analysis were normally concluded before IVIG treatment.

Clinical response was achieved after surgical intervention and antibiotic therapy. Thoracic and pericardial tubes were removed on day 6. She was decannulated and discharged from the hospital 28 days after admission. Control ultrasound was normal without thrombus.

Discussion

Lemierre’s syndrome is a condition in which an oropharyngeal infection progresses to thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein and septic embolization.⁶ Lemierre primarily affects young adults. The primary source of infection may be odontogenic infection, mastoiditis, parotitis, sinusitis, otitis media, and skin or subcutaneous tissue infections.^{7, 8} Clinical findings include fever, cervical lymphadenopathy, pain, and stiffness of the neck from 4 to 5 days after the onset of pharyngitis. Edema and pain at the angle of the mandible and parallel to the sternocleidomastoid muscle indicate involvement of the parapharyngeal space. Septic embolism of the jugular vein mainly affects the lungs. Pulmonary involvement may present with severe chest pain, shortness of breath, and hemoptysis. Respiratory distress is present in the majority of cases.^9-11 The diagnosis was based on the following criteria: 1-primary oropharyngeal infection, 2-septicemia with at least one culture growth, 3-clinical or radiological evidence of cranial or cervical vein thrombosis and 4-secondary metastatic abscesses. In our case, Lemierre syndrome was diagnosed based on a history of dental infection, leukocytosis in laboratory tests, elevated C-reactive protein, abscess on computed tomography scan, a thrombus in the right jugular vein, and a pericardial and pleural effusion due to a mediastinal abscess.

Although causal bacteria are isolated in 80% of cases, many organisms including Staphylococci, Streptococci, Fusobacterium and anaerobic Gram-negative Bacilli, have been reported in etiology.^{12, 13}

The first line of treatment is intravenous antimicrobial therapy, with coverage for anaerobes, staphylococci, and streptococci. b-lactam/b-lactamase inhibitor, clindamycin, and metronidazole have been suggested for Fusobacterium species. Piperacillin-tazobactam and carbapenems are widely used in antibiotic treatment in cases with a severe clinical course.¹⁴ In this case, Streptococcus mitis was isolated from a blood culture. Piperacillin-tazobactam, vancomycin, and metronidazole were started in our case who was followed up in the pediatric intensive care unit, and then piperacillin-tazobactam was revised as meropenem.

The routine use of anticoagulation in Lemierre’s syndrome cannot be recommended because of limited data.^{11, 15} Our patient was anticoagulated with enoxaparin sodium.

Conclusion

Considering the high mortality rate of Lemierre’s syndrome, early diagnosis, initiation of appropriate antibiotics and abscess drainage are important. Prolonged oropharyngeal infection and worsening of symptoms in a young healthy adolescent should suggest Lemierre’s syndrome and should be investigated for thrombosis and septic embolism. A timely and multidisciplinary approach to Lemierre’s syndrome will be lifesaving.