Case report
Influenza A/H1N1 septic shock in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus. A case report
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* Corresponding author: Panagiota Boura boura@med.auth.gr
1 Clinical Immunology Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
2 Intensive Care Unit, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
BMC Infectious Diseases 2011, 11:358 doi:10.1186/1471-2334-11-358
Published: 29 December 2011Abstract
Background
Immunocompromised patients, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) sufferers have an increased risk of mortality, following influenza infection. In the recent pandemic, influenza A H1NI virus caused 18449 deaths, mainly because of adult respiratory distress syndrome or bacterial co-infections.
Case Presentation
In this case report, an SLE patient with viral-induced septic shock, without overt pulmonary involvement, is discussed. The patient was administered oseltamivir and supportive treatment, including wide-spectrum antibiotics, vasopressors and steroids, according to the guidelines proposed for bacterial sepsis and septic shock. She finally survived and experienced a lupus flare soon after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge.
Conclusions
To our knowledge, this is the first case to report severe septic shock from influenza A/H1N1 virus, without overt pulmonary involvement.