Septic shock in a woman with a hydatidiform mole: A case report

Hydatidiform moles can be fatal because of the risk of massive bleeding or thyroid storm; however, they rarely occur concomitantly with sepsis. We present herein the case of a woman with a hydatidiform mole with septic shock. A 30-year-old multiparous woman with Basedow's disease presented with fever, amenorrhea, and vaginal bleeding. Transvaginal ultrasonography revealed an enlarged uterus with an intrauterine vesicular mass (74.3 × 93.0 mm). Human chorionic gonadotropin level was 994,000 mIU/mL. C-reactive protein was elevated, and blood cultures were positive (gram-negative rods), indicating infection. After administering antibiotics (tazobactam and piperacillin), blood pressure suddenly decreased (69/45 mmHg), requiring stabilization with noradrenaline and albumin. The uterine contents were naturally expelled, followed by dilatation and curettage after her vital signs and general condition gradually improved. The pathological diagnosis was a complete hydatidiform mole. Culture of the intrauterine contents revealed Escherichia coli, leading to the potentially fatal diagnosis of septic shock associated with a hydatidiform mole. •Several lethal conditions can occur in patients with a hydatidiform mole.•Infection can be a lethal complication in women with hydatidiform moles.•The association between hydatidiform moles and sepsis has been rarely reported.•This is a case of septic shock in a hydatidiform mole with advanced gestational age.