Clostridium Perfringens Bacteremia with Acute Hemolytic Anemia in the Setting of Endometrial Malignancy

Acad Forensic Pathol. 2019 Mar;9(1-2):127-133. doi: 10.1177/1925362119851240. Epub 2019 Sep 6.

Abstract

Acute intravascular hemolysis is a rare and often lethal complication of Clostridium perfringens septicemia.Clostridium perfringens is an anaerobic, gram-positive spore-forming rod which is commonly implicated in cases of food poisoning, gas gangrene, and severe hemolytic anemia in humans via the alpha-toxin (phospholipase C). We report an interesting and rare case of a 72-year-old woman who developed massive intravascular hemolysis secondary to C perfringens bacteremia in the setting of poorly differentiated high-grade endometrial malignancy.

Keywords: Acute hemolytic anemia; Bacteremia; Clostridium perfringens; Endometrial malignancy; Forensic pathology.

Publication types

  • Case Reports