Cardiac diphtheria in a previously immunized individual.

A previously healthy 19-year-old Asian female without significant past medical history presented to the emergency room complaining of a sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, fever, swollen neck, malaise, and myalgia for three to four days. The patient was initially seen at an outside hospital, evaluated by an ear, nose, and throat physician (ENT), and was found to have desquamative pharyngitis. The patient was transferred to our hospital after she continued to experience progressively worsening shortness of breath and went into acute respiratory distress. The patient was found to have laryngeal edema on exam with greenish-black, necrotic-looking tissue extending to the hypopharynx, nasopharynx, and oropharynx. A culture was taken. ENT was consulted for tracheostomy placement. The patient refused to have tracheostomy placed. She went into severe respiratory distress and required urgent tracheostomy. A cardiac consult was obtained. A 2D echocardiogram performed one day after admission revealed an ejection fraction (EF) of 10-20%, normal left ventricular cavity size, normal wall thickness, and severe global systolic dysfunction. There was mild to moderate mitral regurgitation and trace tricuspid regurgitation. The inferior vena cava was dilated and a 1 cm x 1.5 cm questionable mass or thrombus was seen. The patient's throat culture was positive for diphtheria. The CDC was contacted, and the patient was treated with antitoxin with prompt resolution of cardiac symptoms. A repeat echo done five days post-treatment showed improved EF of 65%, normal left ventricular thickness and function, with no clot visualized. She was treated with ceftriaxone and flagyl for ocular motor neuritis, otitis media, and strep. pneumonia with gradual improvement. These were all secondary to the diphtheria toxins, however, the patient continues to be followed as an outpatient by ENT for ongoing problems with swallowing, speech, and trach management.