Within the past six years, a case of bothWaterhouse-Freidrichsen Syndrome and fulminant meningococcemia have presented to Union Memorial Hospital. Both cases presented in markedly different fashions, differed in microbiologic serogrouping, showed minimal histopathologic similarities; however achieved ultimately the same outcome through two different pathological pathways. The following case rep...

Neisseria meningitidis is responsible for two major diseases: cerebrospinal meningitis and/or septicemia. The latter can lead to a purpura fulminans, an often-fatal condition owing to the associated septic shock. These two clinical aspects of the meningococcal infection are consequences of a tight interaction of meningococci with host endothelial cells. This interaction, mediated by the type IV...

A 23 year old Caucasian woman was admitted to a local emergency room after awakening with “bruises” and “red spots” scattered over her body associated with fever and rigors and dizziness. Upon arrival, she had no measurable blood pressure and a temperature of 40.2 C. Petechiae and purpurae were noted primarily over her trunk and extremities. A CBC revealed WBC 2700/mm with a manual differential...

Introduction Meningococcal disease remains an important public health problem worldwide due to its high lethality and high sequelae rates. Although meningococcal disease shows a decreasing incidence trend, vaccination against the current predominant serogroup (serogroup B) in Europe is not offered by routine in Spain and continuous surveillance is needed. Methods Meningococcal disease (ICD-9: 0...

Eculizumab is a novel monoclonal antibody that inhibits complement-mediated hemolysis in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). Complement deficiency is a well-known risk factor for meningococcal infection. We describe a case of a young patient with PNH treated with eculizumab who presented with a life-threatening case of nongroupable meningococcemia. As this new biologic agen...