Massive Bone Marrow Necrosis with Polyclonal Hypergammaglobulinemia and Blue Toe Syndrome

AbstractHere, we report a rare case of massive bone marrow necrosis, which – from the clinical findings and images – mimics disseminated bone metastasis. The patient was suffering from severe bone pain with elevated levels of serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH); moreover, strong incorporation of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose in multiple bones was observed by positron emission tomography/computed tomography.The underlying disease was Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, which was thought to transform to cluster of differentiation 5 (CD5)-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The case showed a highly aggressive course, although the original Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia was in the stable state.Clinicians should be aware of the co-occurrence of non-immunoglobulin-producing immature lymphoma, even with good course of Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, and should pay attention to accompanying massive bone marrow necrosis, which mimics multiple cancer metastases to the bone. To the best of our knowledge, the present case is the first report of CD5-positive DLBCL transformed from CD5-negative Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia.

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Bone marrow necrosis and fat embolism syndrome: a near fatal complication in previously undiagnosed sickle beta + thalassaemia

BMJ Case Reports ◽

10.1136/bcr-2020-238317 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. e238317

Author(s):

Nibash Budhathoki ◽

Sunita Timilsina ◽

Bebu Ram ◽

Douglas Marks

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Multiorgan Failure ◽

Rare Condition ◽

Altered Mental Status ◽

Fat Embolism ◽

Bone Marrow Necrosis ◽

Embolism Syndrome ◽

Hb S ◽

High Index Of Suspicion ◽

Specific Symptoms

Prevalence of haemoglobin sickle-β+ thalassaemia (Hb S/β+thal) is variable with geography ranging from 0.2% to 10% among sickle cell patients. Clinical presentation of Hb S/β+thal patients depends on HbA level, with milder disease often going undiagnosed. However, rarely these patients can present with a fulminant vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC). Given VOC can present with non-specific symptoms, the diagnosis and treatment is often delayed. Here, we present a patient who initially developed altered mental status, pancytopenia and multiorgan failure due a critical VOC resulting in bone marrow necrosis and fat embolism. Subsequent workup confirmed that our patient had Sickle-β+ thalassaemia, which had gone undiagnosed, despite subclinical evidence of haemolysis on routine lab work for years. Following diagnosis and initiation of RBC exchange, he improved significantly and was discharged home. High index of suspicion and bone marrow biopsy is vital for early diagnosis and management of this rare condition.

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Clostridium haemolyticum Infection: A Cause of Hemolytic Anemia in a Patient with Bone Marrow Necrosis

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9081568 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 1568

Author(s):

Anne Sophie Lagneaux ◽

Sandrine Hénard ◽

Laure Diancourt ◽

Emmanuelle Stein ◽

Pierre Perez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Hemolytic Anemia ◽

Obese Woman ◽

Molecular Techniques ◽

Significant Past Medical History ◽

Bone Marrow Necrosis ◽

Rdna Sequencing ◽

Oxygen Sensitive ◽

Bacteremic Episode ◽

Bone Marrow Regeneration

Clostridium haemolyticum is a sporulating Gram-positive anaerobic rod that is considered to be one of the most fastidious and oxygen-sensitive anaerobes. It is a well-known animal pathogen and the cause of bacillary hemoglobinuria primarily in cattle. To date, human infections caused by C. haemolyticum have been reported in three patients with malignant underlying diseases. We present herein the case of a 30-year-old obese woman with no significant past medical history who developed bacteremia caused by C. haemolyticum with massive intravascular hemolysis associated with bone marrow necrosis and acute renal failure. Because of subculture failure, the diagnosis was made on the basis of 16S rDNA sequencing and next-generation sequencing. The patient, who had been afebrile for 20 days after a 17-day-course of antibiotics, experienced a second bacteremic episode caused by C. haemolyticum. After having been successfully treated for 42 days with clindamycin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, the patient developed acute myeloid leukemia as a result of bone marrow regeneration. Although uncommon in humans, infections caused by C. haemolyticum are severe and should be considered in a febrile patient who has severe hemolytic anemia. This case also highlights the importance of using molecular techniques for the identification of this fastidious anaerobic organism.

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