Lemierre’s syndrome: case of a patient with pulmonary embolism and cavernous sinus thrombosis complicating a septic internal jugular vein thrombus

• Published in: Signa vitae Vol. 7; no. 2; p. 60
• Main Authors: FLIS, VOJKO, KOBILICA, NINA, BERGAUER, ANDREJ
• Format: Paper
• Language: English
• Published: Pharmamed Mado Ltd 01-10-2012
• Subjects: anticoagulation treatment; internal jugular vein; Lemierre’s syndrome; septic venous thrombosis
• ISSN: 1334-5605; 1845-206X

Lemierre’s syndrome is a complex and unusual clinical entity, characterized by septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein. We present the case of a patient with Lemierre’s syndrome, pulmonary embolism and propagation of an internal jugular vein thrombus retrograde to the cavernous sinus. The patient was treated with antibiotics and heparin. The importance of rapid diagnosis of the extent of the disease, in directing the otherwise somewhat controversial treatment with heparin in patients with Lemierre’s syndrome, is stressed.