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Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Fat embolism syndrome: an autopsy-proven case involving a patient on dialysis and systemic scleroderma
Nahoko Nishimura1, Shogo Banno1, Yukihiro Kimura1
1Division of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan.
Abstract:
A 66-year-old woman receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis developed acute respiratory distress 12 hours after a fall. Blood gas analysis revealed hypoxia (PaO2 67.7 torr) and metabolic acidosis with an increased anion gap, consistent with lactic acidosis (lactate, 86.5 mg/dL; normal range, 4.0-16.0). Magnetic resonance imaging showed a lumbar vertebral body fracture. On the fourth hospital day, the patient died of multiorgan failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Postmortem studies revealed fat emboli in the systemic circulation, ie, fat embolism syndrome. Diagnosing fat embolism syndrome can be difficult in patients on dialysis or in those with collagen vascular or pulmonary diseases.
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