Necrotizing Bacterial Myositis as the Initial Presentation of Severe Aplastic Anaemia

Introduction. Necrotizing soft tissue infections are rapidly progressing infections associated with severe inflammation and cytokine release. Early recognition and surgical intervention are key factors to secure survival. The current case presents a patient with multifocal necrotizing soft tissue in...

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Main Authors: Synne Dragesund Rørvik, Kristoffer Stange Larsen, Lars Helgeland, Håvard Dale, Birgitta Ivarsen, Øystein Bruserud, Tor Henrik Anderson Tvedt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Hematology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8276937
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author Synne Dragesund Rørvik
Kristoffer Stange Larsen
Lars Helgeland
Håvard Dale
Birgitta Ivarsen
Øystein Bruserud
Tor Henrik Anderson Tvedt
author_facet Synne Dragesund Rørvik
Kristoffer Stange Larsen
Lars Helgeland
Håvard Dale
Birgitta Ivarsen
Øystein Bruserud
Tor Henrik Anderson Tvedt
author_sort Synne Dragesund Rørvik
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. Necrotizing soft tissue infections are rapidly progressing infections associated with severe inflammation and cytokine release. Early recognition and surgical intervention are key factors to secure survival. The current case presents a patient with multifocal necrotizing soft tissue infection as the initial presentation of severe aplastic anaemia. Case Presentation. A man in his fifties was admitted with septic shock with multiorgan failure and severe pancytopenia, after two days of malaise with high fever and right flank pain. The diagnosis streptococcal necrotizing myositis was significantly delayed due to atypical clinical findings. After initial surgical exploration, the decision was made to defer from surgical debridement due to extensive involvement of several muscle groups, grave pancytopenia, and suspected dismal prognosis. Surprisingly, the patient stabilized after antibiotics and intensive care treatment. Based on severe pancytopenia and hypocellular bone marrow, with no evidence of other bone marrow disorders, the patient was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia. Treatment for aplastic anaemia with antithymocyte globulin, cyclosporine, and eltrombopaq was started, and 2 months later, a partial haematological recovery was observed. The patient could be discharged from hospital without antibiotic treatment. Conclusions. This case illustrates the crucial role of a multidisciplinary approach on admission and further during the clinical course. Clinical improvement despite severe neutropenia and stabilization during immunosuppressive therapy suggest that immunological factors modulate clinical course in necrotizing soft tissue infections.
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spelling doaj-art-efac284169864c2a849cae4d8ffbc85d2025-08-20T03:21:19ZengWileyCase Reports in Hematology2090-65792021-01-01202110.1155/2021/8276937Necrotizing Bacterial Myositis as the Initial Presentation of Severe Aplastic AnaemiaSynne Dragesund Rørvik0Kristoffer Stange Larsen1Lars Helgeland2Håvard Dale3Birgitta Ivarsen4Øystein Bruserud5Tor Henrik Anderson Tvedt6Department of MedicineDepartment of MedicineDepartment of PathologyDepartment of Clinical Medicine (K1)Department of Plastic SurgeryDepartment of MedicineDepartment of MedicineIntroduction. Necrotizing soft tissue infections are rapidly progressing infections associated with severe inflammation and cytokine release. Early recognition and surgical intervention are key factors to secure survival. The current case presents a patient with multifocal necrotizing soft tissue infection as the initial presentation of severe aplastic anaemia. Case Presentation. A man in his fifties was admitted with septic shock with multiorgan failure and severe pancytopenia, after two days of malaise with high fever and right flank pain. The diagnosis streptococcal necrotizing myositis was significantly delayed due to atypical clinical findings. After initial surgical exploration, the decision was made to defer from surgical debridement due to extensive involvement of several muscle groups, grave pancytopenia, and suspected dismal prognosis. Surprisingly, the patient stabilized after antibiotics and intensive care treatment. Based on severe pancytopenia and hypocellular bone marrow, with no evidence of other bone marrow disorders, the patient was diagnosed with aplastic anaemia. Treatment for aplastic anaemia with antithymocyte globulin, cyclosporine, and eltrombopaq was started, and 2 months later, a partial haematological recovery was observed. The patient could be discharged from hospital without antibiotic treatment. Conclusions. This case illustrates the crucial role of a multidisciplinary approach on admission and further during the clinical course. Clinical improvement despite severe neutropenia and stabilization during immunosuppressive therapy suggest that immunological factors modulate clinical course in necrotizing soft tissue infections.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8276937
spellingShingle Synne Dragesund Rørvik
Kristoffer Stange Larsen
Lars Helgeland
Håvard Dale
Birgitta Ivarsen
Øystein Bruserud
Tor Henrik Anderson Tvedt
Necrotizing Bacterial Myositis as the Initial Presentation of Severe Aplastic Anaemia
Case Reports in Hematology
title Necrotizing Bacterial Myositis as the Initial Presentation of Severe Aplastic Anaemia
title_full Necrotizing Bacterial Myositis as the Initial Presentation of Severe Aplastic Anaemia
title_fullStr Necrotizing Bacterial Myositis as the Initial Presentation of Severe Aplastic Anaemia
title_full_unstemmed Necrotizing Bacterial Myositis as the Initial Presentation of Severe Aplastic Anaemia
title_short Necrotizing Bacterial Myositis as the Initial Presentation of Severe Aplastic Anaemia
title_sort necrotizing bacterial myositis as the initial presentation of severe aplastic anaemia
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/8276937
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