Unexpected extrapyramidal symptoms and pulmonary aspergillosis in exertional heatstroke with fulminant liver failure: a case report

BACKGROUND Exertional heatstroke is a life-threatening condition with high mortality because of the rapid progress of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome even if aggressive treatments are initiated rapidly. Mild to moderate hepatic injury is common in exertional heatstroke, while fulminant liver failure is rare. Extrapyramidal symptoms and pulmonary aspergillosis secondary to liver failure induced by exertional heatstroke have never been reported in prior cases. CASE PRESENTATION A 25-year-old Han Chinese man presented with exertional heatstroke with fulminant liver failure, subsequent pulmonary aspergillosis, and extrapyramidal symptoms. Moreover, he also presented with coma, rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. He recovered under conservative treatment including therapeutic plasma exchange plus continuous veno-venous hemofiltration, fluid resuscitation, antibiotics, and other support therapy. CONCLUSIONS Therapeutic plasma exchange plus continuous veno-venous hemofiltration could be effective for patients with heatstroke who suffer liver failure and other organ failure. Patients with liver failure are at high risk for pulmonary aspergillosis. Movement disorder in these patients might be extrapyramidal symptoms induced by consistent low level of cholinesterase resulted from hepatic injury besides brain injury.