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Rapidly fatal pneumococcal septicemia in systemic lupus erythematosus
C Van der Straeten1, N Wei, J Rothschild
1Arthritis and Rheumatism Branch, National Institutes of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Abstract:
Streptococcal pneumoniae septicemia was responsible for the deaths of 3 patients with chronic systemic lupus erythematosus. The absence of a spleen likely contributed to sepsis in 2 patients. One patient had been immunized with 14-valent pneumococcal vaccine with a doubling of serum antibody concentrations at one month to all vaccine capsular polysaccharide types except for Types 1 and 12. The patient died 74 months after immunization of pneumococcal Type 1 sepsis.
Insights
Streptococcal pneumoniae sepsis caused three deaths in systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Spleen absence was a likely factor, and one patient developed sepsis despite pneumococcal vaccination.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease increasing infection risk.
- Pneumococcal sepsis is a serious complication in immunocompromised individuals.
- Asplenia is a known risk factor for severe bacterial infections.