Two cases of spontaneous epidural abscess in patients with cirrhosis

Pyogenic spinal infections in patients with chronic liver disease: illustrative case and systematic review

BACKGROUND

Pyogenic spinal infections (PSIs) are a group of uncommon but serious infectious diseases that are characterized by inflammation of the endplate–disc unit. PSIs are considered more prevalent and aggressive among patients with chronic immunocompromised states. Association between PSIs and liver disease has not been systematically analyzed. The authors performed a systematic review to study baseline characteristics, clinical presentation, and mortality of patients with PSI in the setting of chronic liver disease.

OBSERVATIONS

The authors presented the case of a 72-year-old female patient with chronic liver disease who presented with severe low back pain and bilateral lower weakness. Imaging studies showed T10–11 spondylodiscitis. The patient received decompression and fusion surgery with partial neurological improvement. The authors performed a systematic literature search of spondylodiscitis and liver disease, and eight published articles met the studies inclusion and exclusion criteria. These studies featured a total of 144 patients, of whom 129 met inclusion criteria (mean age, 60.5 years, range 40 to 83 years; 62% males). Lumbar infection was the most common report (67%), with Staphylococcus aureus (48%) as the main causative microorganism. Neurological compromise was present in 69% of patients. Surgical intervention occurred in 70.5% of patients, and the average duration of antibiotic treatment was 69.4 days. Postoperative complication rate was 28.5%, with a 30- and 90-day mortality of 17.2% and 24.8%, respectively.

LESSONS

Pyogenic spondylodiscitis in patients with liver disease was associated with a high rate of neurological compromise, postoperative complications, and mortality.

Spinal infections in patients with compromised immune systems

Spinal infections are relatively uncommon but have potentially devastating consequences if not diagnosed and treated correctly. Compromised immunologic responsiveness, either transient or permanent, predisposes patients to more frequent and more severe infections. Through a Medline review of the English-language literature from 1990 to 2005, we examined the current understanding of the etiology of common immunocompromising conditions, how these diagnoses impact the relative spine infection rates including diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring, and practice trends regarding surgical intervention.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level V (expert opinion). Please see Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of the levels of evidence.