Legionnaires' disease and acute renal failure: case report and review.

The case of a 26-year-old man with pneumonia due to Legionella pneumophila associated with acute renal failure is presented, and the English-language literature on legionnaires' disease is reviewed. For this review, acute renal failure was defined as rapid deterioration in renal function indicated by a rise in levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine with or without the presence of oliguria. Our patient experienced renal failure and underwent hemodialysis. His condition gradually improved after treatment of legionnaires' disease with erythromycin. Biopsy of the kidney showed acute tubulointerstitial nephritis. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated the presence of L. pneumophila serogroup 1. The laboratory findings suggested rhabdomyolysis. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of a patient with legionnaires' disease who recovered from acute renal failure and in whom the presence of L. pneumophila was demonstrated, and we believe it is the first case in which morphology of the kidney demonstrated the presence of L. pneumophila in a patient with legionnaires' disease, rhabdomyolysis, and renal failure.     

非外伤性横纹肌溶解症39例临床分析

目的总结非外伤性横纹肌溶解症的病因、临床特点、治疗及预后。方法回顾性分析1999年1月至2006年11月北京协和医院收治的39例非外伤性横纹肌溶解症患者的病因、临床特点、治疗及预后。结果非外伤性横纹肌溶解症的主要表现为发热、乏力、受累肌肉疼痛和(或)压痛、肌肉肿胀、尿色改变及少尿或无尿,均有血清肌酶和血肌红蛋白明显升高。非外伤性横纹肌溶解症的并发症或合并症有急性肾衰竭、电解质和代谢紊乱、肌间隙综合征和多器官功能衰竭(MOSF)等。感染(33.3%)和药物(25.6%)是本组非外伤性横纹肌溶解症最常见的病因,其次为代谢紊乱(10.3%)、酒精中毒(7.7%)。治疗包括减少肌肉损伤、补液、碱化尿液及并发症的处理,必要时行肾脏替代治疗。总体病死率为15.4%,合并急性肾衰竭(ARF)者病死率为20.7%。MOSF是死亡的预测因素。存活者若无慢性肾功能异常,其肾功能均可恢复或维持正常。结论非外伤性横纹肌溶解症是一种病因、临床表现、并发症及合并症多样的综合征,早期诊断有一定困难。但只要治疗正确、及时,存活者肾功能多有望恢复或维持正常。     

Acute rhabdomyolysis during pneumococcal pneumonia: two cases

Acute rhabdomyolysis is a clinical and biological syndrome generally with a toxic or traumatic cause. Only 5% of cases are infectious, and rarely in relation to a pneumococcal infection. We report two cases of acute rhabdomyolysis which developed in patients with severe Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia. No other cause could be identified in these two patients aged 32 and 37 years. Rhabdomyolysis was discovered in the first patient because of acute kidney failure and elevated serum transaminase levels. The second patient presented an inflammatory edema affecting the soft tissues. Blood cultures isolated a pneumococcus in both patients. The rhabdomyolysis regressed favorably in both patients despite the transient renal failure in the first patient. Prognosis is generally poor for rhabdomyolysis during the course of pneumococcal pneumonia, with increased morbidity and mortality for these infections. Early detection of bacteriemia enables rapid and adequate treatment and prevention of renal failure.     

A case of severe Legionnaires' disease complicated by rhabdomyolysis, acute renal failure, liver dysfunction and encephalopathy

A 67-year-old male was admitted to our hospital due to a high fever with abnormal shadows on chest X-ray films. On admission, his laboratory data showed hyponatremia, rhabdomyolysis and liver dysfunction. Encephalopathy, acute renal failure and respiratory failure developed, despite fluid management and antimicrobial therapy. His condition worsened rapidly in a few days enough to require mechanical ventilation. Legionnaires' disease was suspected, because pneumonia was found to be associated with multiple organ dysfunction. Intravenous erythromycin and methylprednisolone were administered. The patient's condition was rapidly improved, although he needed hemodialysis for 30 days. Later, indirect fluorescent antibody testing of the patient's serum against Legionella pneumophila was definitely positive (1:1024). We reported the first case of severe Legionnaires' disease in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan.     

Comparative study of community-acquired pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila or Chlamydia pneumoniae

The objective of this study was to compare epidemiological data and clinical presentation of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila or Chlamydia pneumoniae. From May 1994 to February 1996, 157 patients with S. pneumoniae (n = 68), L. pneumophila (n = 48) and C. pneumoniae (n = 41) pneumonia with definitive diagnosis, were prospectively studied. The following comparisons showed differences at a level of at least p < 0.05. Patients with S. pneumoniae pneumonia had more frequently underlying diseases (HIV infection and neoplasm) and those with C. pneumoniae pneumonia were older and had a higher frequency of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while L. pneumophila pneumonia prevailed in patients without comorbidity, but with alcohol intake. Presentation with cough and expectoration were significantly more frequent in patients with S. pneumoniae or C. pneumoniae pneumonia, while headache, diarrhoea and no response to betalactam antibiotics prevailed in L. pneumophila pneumonia. However, duration of symptoms > or = 7 d was more frequent in C. pneumoniae pneumonia. Patients with CAP caused by L. pneumophila presented hyponatraemia and an increase in CK more frequently, while AST elevation prevailed in L. pneumophila and C. pneumoniae pneumonia. In conclusion, some risk factors and clinical characteristics of patients with CAP may help to broaden empirical therapy against atypical pathogens until rapid diagnostic tests are available.     

Muscular involvement in Legionnaires' disease. Review of the literature apropos of 2 cases

Two cases of Legionnaires' disease proven by seroconversion in indirect immunofluorescence are reported. Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) was increased in both patients, and one had rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure and acute respiratory distress. A review of the literature brought out 9 other cases of rhabdomyolysis associated with Legionnaires' disease. Myalgias are an inconstant warning symptom; renal impairment is present in more than one half of the cases, and although pulmonary lesions are moderate, respiratory muscle involvement may require mechanical ventilation. In view of the severe complications of rhabdomyolysis, CPK should be systematically assayed in patients with Legionnaires' disease; 57 p. 100 of whom, according to published reports, have high CPK levels. In a retrospective study of bacterial pneumonia caused by common pathogens, we found that CPK was elevated in 31 p. 100 of the cases. The mechanism of muscular involvement is discussed.     

Tubulointerstitial nephritis associated with Legionnaires' disease

A 47-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for community-acquired pneumonia complicated with acute renal failure. Legionella pneumophila serogroup type 1 was grown in BCYE (buffered charcoal yeast extract) agar for sputum culture. Although his respiratory illness responded to intravenous erythromycin therapy, renal failure worsened and necessitated hemodialysis. Renal biopsy showed profound tubulointerstitial nephritis. After initiation of steroid therapy his renal function improved and he was discharged thereafter. These findings suggest that in Legionnaires' disease with acute renal failure, tubulointerstitial nephritis should also be considered and steroid therapy may be an effective modality for the renal complication.     

Incidence and risk factors of bacterial pneumonia requiring hospitalization in HIV-infected patients started on a protease inhibitor-containing regimen

OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence and risk factors of bacterial pneumonia occurring in patients treated with antiretrovirals. METHODS: In the ongoing APROCO (Anti-proteases) cohort, 1281 patients at the initiation of a protease inhibitor (PI)-containing antiretroviral regimen were enrolled from 1997-1999. All events requiring hospitalization during follow up are recorded. Of these, bacterial pneumonia was defined as the occurrence of a new pulmonary infiltrate with fever and either evidence of a bacteriological cause (definite cases) or favourable outcome with antimicrobial therapy (presumptive cases). Risk factors of bacterial pneumonia were studied using survival analyses. RESULTS: During a median follow up of 43 months, 29 patients had at least one episode of bacterial pneumonia, giving an incidence of 0.8/100 patient years. The 11 definite cases were attributable to Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=9), Legionella pneumophila (n=1) and Haemophilus influenzae (n=1). In multivariate analysis, bacterial pneumonia was significantly more frequent in older patients, injecting drug users, patients having a CD4 cell count>500 cells/microL at baseline and patients who initiated PI therapy with nonboosted saquinavir. It was significantly less frequent in nonsmokers. The occurrence of bacterial pneumonia was also associated with lower self-reported adherence to antiretroviral therapy and to higher plasma HIV-1 RNA levels during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Bacterial pneumonia occurs rarely in patients treated with a PI-containing regimen and may be associated with virological failure.     

Fenofibrate-induced acute renal failure due to massive rhabdomyolysis after coadministration of statin in two patients

Fibric acid derivatives and statins have been increasingly recognized as causes of rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure. We report severe rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure associated to combination treatment with statin and fenofibrate in two patients with underlying coronary artery disease. Both patients developed rhabdomyolysis-induced acute renal failure after their hyperlipidemia treatment was changed from statin to statin plus fenofibrate. Both patients experienced intense muscle symptoms, hemoglobinuria, oliguria, and elevation of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine. Their serum creatine kinase levels were markedly elevated (case 1; 97,392 IU/l and case 2; 96,639 IU/l). Rhabdomyolysis induced acute renal failure was diagnosed in both patients. Both patients were managed with cessation of the statin-fibrate combination, adequate fluid resuscitation and forced alkaline-mannitol diuresis. Although both patients required hemodialysis, their renal function recovered. Fenofibrate initiation is associated with an increased risk for rhabdomyolysis in patients receiving statin therapy. To prevent future events, it is crucial that clinicians recognize the interaction risk associated with concurrent use of statin and fenofibrate. We recommend careful monitoring when fenofibrate is given to patients receiving statin therapy.     

Rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure secondary to statins

Statins are competitive inhibitors of hydroxy-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase and are the most commonly used drugs to treat hyperlipidaemia. Muscle toxicity is an adverse effect reported with a low incidence and rarely associated with acute renal failure due to rhabdomyolysis. We describe two patients with chronic renal failure treated with pravastatin and simvastatin who suffered rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure. One patient started pravastatin several days after cessation of bezafibrate and developed acute renal failure without needing dialysis. The other was treated with simvastatin three years ago and suffered rhabdomyolysis when renal function was impaired after indomethacin was prescribed for backache. He needed hemodialysis because of acute cardiac failure and died from a respiratory infection while on mechanical ventilation. Myopathy was reversible in both patients. We recommend starting statins with the lower doses in chronic renal failure and monitoring muscle enzymes when renal function changes or when new drugs with potential interactions are prescribed.     

Rhabdomyolysis in thyroid storm

This is the first reported case of thyroid storm complicated by rhabdomyolysis with acute reversible renal failure. The only possible causes for the rhabdomyolysis were inherent features of thyroid storm. Although hyperthyroid patients characteristically have normal or low serum levels of muscle enzymes, this case report demonstrates that rhabdomyolysis with elevated serum levels of muscle enzymes can occur with hyperthyroidism. An appreciation of the potential for rhabdomyolysis in hyperthyroidism should facilitate prompt initiation of aggressive therapy for myoglobinuria and thereby limit the severity of acute renal failure in these already very sick patients.     

Surviving case of Legionella pneumonia showing a high level of serum KL-6 and complicated with rhabdomyolysis]

A 66-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with pyrexia up to 40 degrees C since one day after taking a public bath. Since multiple infiltrations on the lung were shown by chest radiography, severe pneumonia was diagnosed. Administration of antibiotics meropenem and erythromycin yielded no detected effect. Furthermore, rifampicin induced severe liver dysfunction. Improvement of clinical symptoms was seen after ciprofloxacine (CPFX) was given. Interstitial pneumonia, increases in KL-6 up to a level of 3545 U/ml and acute respiratory failure were improved by taking methylprednisolone. Since Legionella antigen was found in the urine, the use of CPFX was continued. Rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure were successfully treated by transfusion, diuretic therapy, and glucocorticoid therapy. This was a very rare case of survival after Legionella pneumonia complicated with acute respiratory failure, acute renal failure, rhabdomyolysis, and interstitial pneumonia accompanied with a high KL-6 level, and successfully treated with steroids and CPFX.     

Serum levels of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in bacterial and viral infections, and in atypical pneumonia

Summary. Serum granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) was measured with an ELISA method in patients with acute bacterial and viral infections, or with and atypical pneumonia. Before initiation of antibiotic treatment, G-CSF was found to be significantly increased (799 ± 1501 ng/1) in sera from 34 patients with and acute bacterial infection compared with the 27 patients with the 27 patients with viral infection (58 ± 34 ng/1; P < 0.001) and with the eight patients with an atypical pneumonia (60 ± 33) ng/1; P < 0.001). No significant difference in G-CSF levels was seen between gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial infections. In septic shock, increased G-CSF levels were seen both in patients with leucocytosis and leucopenia. In uncomplicated bacterial infections, both G-CSF and IL-6 were increased on day 0, and decreased rapidly after initiation of antibacterial therapy and before the patients became afebrile. In bacterial infections on day 0, G-CSF levels correlated with mononuclear cells (r_s=−0.62, p < 0.001), IL-6 (r_s= 0.40, P < 0.05 and S-MPO (r_s=−0.5, P < 0.01). In viral infections, G-CSF was correlated with mononuclear cells (r_s= 0.041, P < 0.05), White blood cell counts (r_s= 0.56, P < 0.01), neutorphils (r_s= 0.41, P < 0.05) and CRP (r_s= 0.47, P < 0.05). We conclude that G-CSF is rapidly rised in the blood in acute baterica infections but not in acute viral infections or in infections with Mycoplasma pneumonia . Our results also support the theory that G-CSF is involved in the mechanisms of mobilization of neutrophils into the peripheral circulation.     

Clinical characteristics of nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis in patients with liver cirrhosis]

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Rhabdomyolysis is a serious and lethal condition that can be induced not only by traumatic causes but also by a variety of nontraumatic causes. However, there are few reports about rhabdomyolysis developed in patients with liver cirrhosis. We carried out this study to elucidate the clinical characteristics and courses of rhabdomyolysis in patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODS: We analyzed 19 cases of nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis in patients with liver cirrhosis who had admitted at Korea University Ansan Hospital between October 2001 and September 2004. RESULTS: Alcohol (50%) was the main etiology of rhabdomyolysis in alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients, and the precipitating factors were not apparent (69.2%) in majority of nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis patients with rhabdomyolysis. Nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis patients had complaints of pain referable to the musculoskeletal system, but alcoholic liver cirrhosis patients had no typical complaints. Mortality of rhabdomyolysis in liver cirrhosis patients was high (42.1%), especially in decompensated liver cirrhosis patients (p=0.04). In nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis patients, the development of oliguria (p=0.007) and acute renal failure (p=0.049) in the course of rhabdomyolysis increased the mortality significantly. CONCLUSIONS: In cirrhosis patients, rhabdomyolysis showed a poor prognosis, especially in nonalcoholic liver cirrhosis with oliguria, acute renal failure, or decompensated liver cirrhosis. It is believed that a high clinical suspicion for the occurrence of rhabdomyolysis in liver cirrhosis patients can lead to quicker recognition and better patient care.     

Rhabdomyolyses toxiques et médicamenteuses

Seven rhabdomyolysis occuring during acute intoxication or drug induced are reported. They are admitted in the intensive care department for the treatment of acute intoxication and/or acute renal failure. The causes are intoxications by carbonmonoxyde (3), barbiturates and/or alcohol (2), neuroleptics (1) and a post-operative rhabdomyolysis caused by suxamethonium. The clinical features are muscular syndrome, acute renal failure and hyperkaliemia. The increase in CPK levels, the presence of myoglobinuria affirm the diagnosis. The mecanisms of the rhabdomyolysis are discussed.     

Community-acquired pneumonia caused by mixed aerobic bacteria

Mixed bacterial pneumonia caused by organisms other than anaerobes has been infrequently reported. We describe six cases and review the literature. Two patients had co-infection with S pneumoniae and L pneumophila. Two were infected with S pneumoniae and K pneumoniae and the others simultaneously harbored M tuberculosis and N asteroides. The first two sets of patients had bacteria isolated from usually sterile sites (blood and lung), while the latter harbored repeatedly isolated organisms not usually felt to be part of the normal respiratory flora. Mixed infection may help explain the substantial mortality still seen from pneumonia. This is especially true if Legionella, mycobacteria, or Nocardia species are encountered where routine smears and cultures may not aid in the diagnosis. Poor clinical response to specific antibacterial therapy in pneumonia should trigger further investigation for other potential pathogens.     

The role of atypical pathogens in community-acquired pneumonia

The term atypical pneumonia was first used in 1938, and by the 1970s it was widely used to refer to pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila (or other Legionella species), and Chlamydophila pneumoniae. However, in the purest sense all pneumonias other than the classic bacterial pneumonias are atypical. Currently many favor abolition of the term atypical pneumonia.This review categorizes atypical pneumonia pathogens as conventional ones; viral agents and emerging atypical pneumonia pathogens. We emphasize viral pneumonia because with the increasing availability of multiplex polymerase chain reaction we can identify the agent(s) responsible for viral pneumonia. By using a sensitive assay for procalcitonin one can distinguish between viral and bacterial pneumonia. This allows pneumonia to be categorized as bacterial or viral at the time of admission to hospital or at discharge from the emergency department and soon thereafter further classified as to the etiology, which should be stated as definite or probable.     

A case of Legionnaires' disease with acute renal failure improved by continuous hemodiafiltration

A 52-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of fever and dyspnea. Chest X-ray film showed infiltrative shadows in the right lower lung fields and serum creatinine was 6.7 mg/dl. The patient was diagnosed as pneumonia complicated with acute renal failure. He was treated with antimicrobial therapy. However he developed respiratory failure and exhibited mental confusion. Legionnaires' disease was suspected, because pneumonia was found to be associated with multiple organ dysfunction. We started treatment with intravenous administration of minocycline and continuous hemodiafiltration and his condition had been rapidly improved. We diagnosed this case as legionnaires' disease due to the positive of urinary Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen. Since the cases of legionnaires' disease with acute renal failure are serious, prompt diagnosis and adequate treatment are essential.     

Occult elevation of CK as a manifestation of rhabdomyolysis in the elderly.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence, etiology and clinical course of rhabdomyolysis in hospitalized elderly patients. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Acute geriatric department of a university-affiliated teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Twenty-three patients who fulfilled our criteria of rhabdomyolysis. Criteria for inclusion were the finding of elevated serum creatine kinase of five-fold or greater above the upper reference limit and greater than 97% MM isoenzyme. RESULTS: In a 3-year period 23 patients out of 2,870 admissions fulfilled the criteria for rhabdomyolysis, an incidence rate of 0.8%. Diseases or insults associated with rhabdomyolysis were, in order of frequency, acute immobilization, infectious disease, cerebrovascular accident, hyperosmolar state, hyponatremia, hypernatremia, hypothermia, and a fall. Twenty-two patients recovered from the acute illness; one patient died from respiratory failure. Seventeen patients had renal failure (serum creatinine greater than 180 mumol/L), none necessitating dialysis. Serum creatinine always declined following recovery. CONCLUSION: Elevation of CK with few other clinical features of rhabdomyolysis is common in admissions to a geriatric service. It is due to complete immobilization resulting from acute illness. Renal failure is mild and reversible, and the prognosis for recovery is excellent.     

Bronchoalveolar lavage for diagnosing acute bacterial pneumonia

The utility of gram stain and semiquantitative culture of the fluid retrieved by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in identifying the causative agent in acute bacterial pneumonia was initially assessed in 92 patients. Fifteen of these patients presented with clinically active bacterial pneumonia; the remaining patients underwent bronchoscopy to evaluate other processes in the lung. Thirteen of the 15 patients with clinically active bacterial pneumonia had a BAL culture greater than or equal to 10(5) colony-forming units per milliliter of BAL fluid, whereas none of the other groups had a positive culture (chi 2 = 70.7, P less than .001). Gram stain of cytocentrifuged BAL fluid was positive (one or more organisms seen per 1,000 X field) only in those patients with an active bacterial pneumonia. Applying this technique, we studied 59 immunocompromised patients presenting with pulmonary infiltrates. Eight (21%) of the 39 patients presenting with microbial-related infiltrates proved to have acute bacterial pneumonia by BAL culture; the pneumonia resolved with appropriate antimicrobial therapy.