Primary plasma cell leukemia (PPCL) is a rare disease that progresses rapidly. In such cases, it is difficult to achieve remission, and early intensive chemotherapy is recommended. We herein describe the case of a 76-year-old man with PPCL complicated by renal failure and pulmonary hypertension. Bortezomib/dexamethasone induction therapy with lenalidomide was administered in association with continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF). Complete remission was achieved after a single course of treatment, resulting in the cessation of CHDF. With the patient in remission, the administration of beraprost and bosentan resulted in improvements in the pulmonary hypertension. The results of this case report support the use of bortezomib/lenalidomide/dexamethasone combination therapy as an effective treatment for elderly PPCL patients with various complications.

Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a gram-negative rod that can be transmitted primarily by dog bites. This life-threatening organism commonly causes sepsis in patients with splenectomy or alcoholism. A 53-year-old rheumatoid arthritis male treated with methotrexate (MTX) for 5 years was admitted for a 4-day history of fever and dyspnea. He had been bitten on a finger by the family dog 4 days before onset. Laboratory tests revealed pancytopenia, acute renal failure, and evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation, and he subsequently developed acute respiratory distress syndrome. Furthermore, blood cultures grew gram-negative bacilli and despite intensive treatment, he died 5 days after admission. Later, C. canimorsus was identified from his culture samples using a species-specific polymerase chain reaction. C. canimorsus infections should be considered in the differential diagnosis of sepsis for immunocompromised hosts following animal bites.

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