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Int J Angiol 2013; 22(02): 137-142
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1336828
Case Report
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Lemierre Syndrome—Should We Anticoagulate? A Case Report and Review of the Literature

C.K. Phua
1   Department of General Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Tan Tock Seng, Singapore
,
V.M. Chadachan
1   Department of General Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Tan Tock Seng, Singapore
,
R. Acharya
1   Department of General Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Tan Tock Seng, Singapore
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
30 April 2013 (online)

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Abstract

Lemierre syndrome is an uncommon condition classically described in acute oropharyngeal infection with septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein and metastatic septic embolism particularly to the lungs. It is commonly described in young healthy adults with isolation of Fusobacterium necrophorum. We describe a case of Lemierre syndrome in a 50-year-old man with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus presenting with a neck abscess secondary to Klebsiella pneumoniae. Our patient made good recovery to appropriate antimicrobial therapy, prompt surgical drainage, and anticoagulation. Anticoagulation remains controversial and we review the literature for its role in Lemierre syndrome.

Keywords

Lemierre syndrome - internal jugular vein thrombosis - septic thrombophlebitis - anticoagulation - Klebsiella pneumoniae - diabetes mellitus - neck abscess
 

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