Low interleukin-10 level indicates a good prognosis in Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium-induced pediatric hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(sHLH)triggered by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is rare in pediatric patients.There is no consensus on how to treat S.typhimurium-triggered sHLH.CASE SUMMARY A 9-year-old boy with intermittent fever for 3 d presented to our hospital with positive results for S.typhimurium,human rhinovirus,and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections.At the time of admission to our institution,the patient’s T helper 1/T helper 2 cytokine levels were 326 pg/mL for interleukin 6(IL-6),9.1 pg/mL for IL-10,and 246.7 pg/mL for interferon-gamma(IFN-γ),for which the ratio of IL-10 to IFN-γwas 0.04.In this study,the patient received meropenem,linezolid,and cefoperazone/sulbactam in combination with high-dose methylprednisolone therapy(10 mg/kg/d for 3 d)and antishock supportive treatment twice.After careful evaluation,this patient did not receive HLH chemotherapy and recovered well.CONCLUSION S.Typhimurium infection-triggered sHLH patient had a ratio of IL-10 to IFN-γ≤1.33,an IL-10 concentration≤10.0 pg/mL,and/or an IFN-γconcentration≤225 pg/mL at admission.Early antimicrobial and supportive treatment was sufficient,and the HLH-94/2004 protocol was not necessary under these conditions.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis triggered by relapsing polychondritis:A case report

BACKGROUND Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(HLH)is a rare,life-threatening disorder caused by abnormal histiocytes and T cell activation.In adults,it is predominantly associated with infections,cancers,and autoimmune diseases.Relapsing polychondritis(RP),another rare disease,is diagnosed based on symptoms without specific tests,featuring cartilage inflammation characterized by swelling,redness,and pain,rarely inducing HLH.CASE SUMMARY A 74-year-old woman visited the emergency room with a fever of 38.6℃.Blood tests,cultures,and imaging were performed to evaluate fever.Results showed increased fluorescent antinuclear antibody levels and mild cytopenia,with no other specific findings.Imaging revealed lymph node enlargement was observed;however,biopsy results were inconclusive.Upon re-evaluation of the physical exam,inflammatory signs suggestive of RP were observed in the ears and nose,prompting a tissue biopsy for confirmation.Simultaneously,persistent fever accompanied by cytopenia prompted a bone marrow examination,revealing hemophagocytic cells.After finding no significant results in blood culture,viral markers,and tissue examination of enlarged lymph nodes,HLH was diagnosed by RP.Treatment involved methylprednisolone followed by azathioprine.After two months,bone marrow examination confirmed resolution of hemophagocytosis,with normalization of hyperferritinemia and pancytopenia.CONCLUSION Thorough physical examination enabled diagnosis and treatment of HLH trig gered by RP in patients presenting with fever of unknown origin.

Successful rescue of acute liver failure and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis following varicella infection: A case report and review of literature

Herein we report a case of acute liver failure(ALF) and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(HLH) induced by varicella infection, successfully rescued by a combination therapy of acyclovir, supportive care, and immunosuppression with dexamethasone and etoposide. A previously healthy 16-year-old boy presented with generalized rash, fever, severe abdominal pain, and abnormal liver function within 4 d. Chickenpox was suspected, and acyclovir and intravenous immunoglobulin were started on admission. However, the patient's condition deteriorated overnight with soaring transaminases, severe coagulopathy and encephalopathy. On the fourth day of admission, pancytopenia emerged, accompanied by hypofibrinogenemia and hyperferritinemia. The patient was diagnosed with ALF. He also met the diagnostic criteria of HLH according to the HLH-2004 guideline. Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) amplifications of varicella-zoster virus(VZV) were positive, confirming that VZV was a causative trigger for ALF and HLH. In view of the devastating immune activation in HLH, immunosuppression therapy with dexamethasone and etoposide was administered, in addition to high dose acyclovir. The patient's symptoms improved dramatically and he finally made a full recovery. To our knowledge, this is only the second report of a successful rescue of ALF associated with HLH, without resorting to liver transplantation. The first case was reported in a neonate infected by herpes simplex virus-1. However, survival data in older children and adults are lacking, most of whom died or underwent liver transplantation. Our report emphasizes the clinical vigilance for the possible presence of HLH, and the necessity of extensive investigation for underlying etiologies in patients presenting with indeterminate ALF. Early initiation of specific therapy targeting the underlying etiology, and watchful immunosuppression such as dexamethasone and etoposide, together with supportive therapy, are of crucial importance in this life-threatening disorder.

Acute liver failure secondary to severe systemic disease from fatal hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis:Case report and systematic literature review

AIM To systematically review liver disease associated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(HLH),propose reasonable contraindications for liver transplantation for liver failure in HLH,and report an illustrative case.METHODS Systematic review according to PRISMA guidelines of hepatic manifestations of HLH using computerizedliterature search via PubMed of articles published since 1980 with keywords("hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis" or "HLH") AND("liver" or "hepatic"). Two authors independently performed literature search and incorporated articles into this review by consensus. Illustrative case report presented based on review of medical chart,and expert re-review of endoscopic photographs,radiologic images,and pathologic slides. RESULTS A 47-year-old Caucasian male,was hospitalized with high-grade pyrexia,rash,total bilirubin = 45 g/dL,moderately elevated hepatic transaminases,ferritin of 3300 ng/dL,leukopenia,and profound neutropenia(absolute neutrophil count < 100 cells/mm3). Viral serologies for hepatitis A,B,and C were negative. Abdominal computed tomography scan and magnetic resonance imaging revealed no hepatic or biliary abnormalities. Pathologic analysis of liver biopsy revealed relatively well-preserved hepatic parenchyma without lymphocytic infiltrates or macrophage invasion,except for sparse,focal hepatocyte necrosis. Bone marrow biopsy and aspirate revealed foamy macrophages engulfing mature and precursor erythrocytes,consistent with HLH. Interleukin-2 receptor(CD25) was highly elevated,confirming diagnosis of HLH according to Histiocytic Society criteria. Patient initially improved after high-dose prednisone therapy. Patient was judged not to be a liver transplant candidate despite model for end stage liver disease(MELD) score = 33 because liver failure was secondary to severe systemic disease from HLH,including septic shock,focal centrilobular hepatocyte necrosis from hypotension,bone marrow failure,and explosive immune activation from HLH. The patient eventually succumbed to overwhelming sepsis,progressive liver failure,and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. Systematic review reveals liver injury is very common in HLH,and liver failure can sometimes occur. Data on liver transplantation for patients with HLH are very limited,and so far the results have shown a generally much worse prognosis than for other liver transplant indications. Liver transplantation should not be guided solely by MELD score,but should include liver biopsy results and determination whether liver failure is from intrinsic liver injury vs multisystem(extrahepatic) organ failure from HLH.CONCLUSION This case report illustrates that liver transplantation may not be warranted when liver failure associated with HLH is primarily from multisystem failure from HLH. Liver biopsy may be very helpful in determining the severity and pathophysiology of the liver disease.

Intensive care unit complications and outcomes of adult patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: A retrospective study of 16 cases

AIM To study the management, complications and outcomes of adult patients admitted with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(HLH) in the intensive care unit(ICU).METHODS We performed a retrospective observational study of adult patients with the diagnosis of "HLH" admitted to the two academic medical ICUs of Baylor College of Medicine between 01/01/2013 to 06/30/2017. HLH was diagnosed using the HLH-2004 criteria proposed by the Histiocyte Society.RESULTS Sixteen adult cases of HLH were admitted to the medical ICUs over 4 years.Median age of presentation was 49 years and 10(63%) were males. Median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment(SOFA) score at the time of ICU admission was 10. Median ICU length of stay(LOS) was 11.5 d and median hospital LOS was 29 d. Septic shock and acute respiratory failure accounted for majority of diagnoses necessitating ICU admission. Septic shock was the most common ICU complication seen in(88%) patients, followed by acute kidney injury(81%) and acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation(75%). Nine patients(56%) developed disseminated intravascular coagulation and eight(50%) had acute liver failure. 10 episodes of clinically significant bleeding were observed.Multi system organ failure was the most common cause of death seen in 12(75%)patients. The 30 d mortality was 37%(6 cases) and 90 d mortality was 81%(13 cases). There was no difference in mortality based on age(above or less than 50 years), SOFA score on ICU admission(more than or less than 10),immunosuppression, time to diagnose HLH or direct ICU admission versus floor transfer.CONCLUSION HLH is a devastating disease associated with poor outcomes in ICU. Intensivists need to have a high degree of clinical suspicion for HLH in patients with septic shock/multi system organ failure and progressive bi/pancytopenia who are not responding to standard management in ICU.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis caused by primary Epstein-Barr virus in patient with Crohn's disease

We present a case of a 19-year-old man with a 6-year history of Crohn's disease(CD), previously treated with 6-mercaptopurine, who was admitted to our department for Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) infection and subsequently developed a hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(HLH). HLH is a rare disease which causes phagocytosis of all bone marrow derived cells. It can be a primary form as a autosomic recessive disease, or a secondary form associated with a variety of infections; EBV is the most common, the one with poorer prognosis. The incidence of lymphoproliferative disorders was increased in patients with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) treated with thiopurines. Specific EBV-related clinical and virological management should be considered when treating a patient with IBD with immunosuppressive therapy. Moreover EBV infection in immunosuppressed patient can occur with more aggressive forms such as encephalitis and diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Our case confirms what is described in the literature; patients with IBD, particularly patients with CD receiving thiopurine therapy, who present 5 d of fever and cervical lymphadenopathy or previous evidence of lymphopenia should be screened for HLH.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: Recent progress in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(HLH) is a hyperinflammatory syndrome that develops as a primary(familial/hereditary) or secondary(non-familial/hereditary) disease characterized in the majority of the cases by hereditary or acquired impaired cytotoxic T-cell(CTL) and natural killer responses. The molecular mechanisms underlying impaired immune homeostasis have been clarified, particularly for primary diseases. Familial HLH(familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis type 2-5, Chediak-Higashi syndrome, Griscelli syndrome type 2, Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome type 2) develops due to a defect in lytic granule exocytosis, impairment of(signaling lymphocytic activation molecule)-associated protein, which plays a key role in CTL activity [e.g., X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome(XLP) 1], or impairment of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis, a potent regulator of lymphocyte homeostasis(e.g., XLP2). The development of primary HLH is often triggered by infections, but not in all. Secondary HLH develops in association with infection, autoimmune diseases/rheumatological conditions and malignancy. The molecular mechanisms involved in secondary HLH cases remain unknown and the pathophysiology is not the same as primary HLH. For either primary or secondary HLH cases, immunosuppressive therapy should be given to control the hypercytokinemia with steroids, cyclosporine A, or intravenous immune globulin, and if primary HLH is diagnosed, immunochemotherapy with a regimen containing etoposide or anti-thymocyte globulin should be started. Thereafter, allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation is recommended for primary HLH or secondary refractory disease(especially EBVHLH).

Adult onset type 2 familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis with PRF1 c.65delC/c.163C>T compound heterozygous mutations: A case report

BACKGROUND Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(FHL)is a primary immunodeficiency disease caused by gene defects.The onset of FHL in adolescents and adults may lead clinicians to ignore or even misdiagnose the disease.To the best of our knowledge,this is the first report to detail the clinical features of type 2 FHL(FHL2)with compound heterozygous perforin(PRF1)defects involving the c.163C>T mutation,in addition to correlation analysis and a literature review.CASE SUMMARY We report a case of a 27-year-old male patient with FHL2,who was admitted with a persistent fever and pancytopenia.Through next-generation sequencing technology of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(HLH)-related genes,we found compound heterozygous mutations of PRF1:c.65delC(p.Pro22Argfs*29)(frameshift mutation,paternal)and c.163C>T(p.Arg55Cys)(missense mutation,maternal).Although he did not receive hematopoietic stem cell transplantation,the patient achieved complete remission after receiving HLH-2004 treatment protocol.To date,the patient has stopped taking drugs for 15 mo,is in a stable condition,and is under follow-up observation.CONCLUSION The delayed onset of FHL2 may be related to the PRF1 mutation type,pathogenic variation pattern,triggering factors,and the temperature sensitivity of some PRF1 mutations.For individual,the detailed reason for the delay in the onset of FHL warrants further investigation.

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis type 2 in a female Chinese neonate:A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis type 2(FHL2)is a rare genetic disorder presenting with fever,hepatosplenomegaly,and pancytopenia secondary to perforin-1(PRF1)mutation.FLH2 has been described in Chinese but usually presents after 1 year old.We describe a female Chinese neonate with FHL2 secondary to compound heterozygous PRF1 mutation with symptom onset before 1 mo old.We review Chinese FHL2 patients in the literature for comparison.CASE SUMMARY A 15-d-old female neonate was referred to our hospital for persistent fever and thrombocytopenia with diffuse petechiae.She was born to a G5P3 mother at 39 wk and 4 d via cesarean section secondary to breech presentation.No resuscitation was required at birth.She was described to be very sleepy with poor appetite since birth.She developed a fever up to 39.5°C at 7 d of life.Leukocytosis,anemia,and thrombocytopenia were detected at a local medical facility CONCLUSION A literature review identified 75 Chinese FHL2 patients,with only five presenting in the first year of life.Missense and frameshift mutations are the most common PRF1 mutations in Chinese,with 24.8%having c.1349C>T followed by 11.6%having c.65delC.The c.658G>C mutation has only been reported once in the literature and our case suggests it can be pathogenic,at least in the presence of another pathogenic mutation such as c.1066C>T.

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to Plasmodium falciparum malaria: Case report and review of the literature

Rationale:Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare complication of malaria,which is often misdiagnosed.Patient concerns:A 30-year-old male was admitted to our department for persistent fever,which began after returning from a stay in Guinea-Conakry.The laboratory investigations revealed a pancytopenia and an elevated C-reactive protein.Peripheral smear examination showed Plasmodium falciparum,therefore confirming the diagnosis of malaria.The laboratory tests showed a worsening pancytopenia.Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy revealed images of hemophagocytosis.Diagnosis:The diagnosis of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis complicating malaria infection was established.Interventions:The patient was treated with artemether-lumefantrine.No immunosuppressant treatment was delivered to the patient.He received antipyretic and antimalarial treatment only.Outcomes and lessons:We report a case of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis trigged by malaria infection and we review all reported cases secondary to Plasmodium falciparum malaria by searching PubMed publications till October 2019.Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytos secondary to malaria should be suspected even in non-severe cases of malaria.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis caused by STAT1 gain-offunction mutation is not driven by interferon-γ:A case report

BACKGROUND Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(HLH)is a life-threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome caused by many genetic defects.STAT1 is a DNAbinding factor that regulates gene transcription.HLH caused by STAT1 gain-offunction(GOF)mutations has rarely been reported and its clinical manifestations and mechanisms are not clearly defined.CASE SUMMARY A 2-year-old boy presented to our hospital with recurrent fever for>20 d.The patient had a personal history of persistent oral candidiasis and inoculation site infection during the past 2 years.Hepatosplenomegaly was noted.Complete blood cell count showed severe anemia,thrombocytopenia and neutropenia.Other laboratory tests showed liver dysfunction,hypertriglyceridemia and decreased fibrinogen.Hemophagocytosis was found in the bone marrow.Chest computed tomography showed a cavitary lesion.Tests for fungal infection were positive.Serum T helper(Th)1/Th2 cytokine determination demonstrated moderately elevated levels of interleukin(IL)-6 and IL-10 with normal interferon(IFN)-γconcentration.Mycobacterium bovis was identified in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid by polymerase chain reaction.Genetic testing identified a heterozygous mutation of c.1154C>T causing a T385M amino acid substitution in STAT1.Despite antibacterial and antifungal therapy,the febrile disease was not controlled.The signs of HLH were relieved after HLH-94 protocol administration,except fever.Fever was not resolved until he received anti-tuberculosis therapy.Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was refused and the patient died six months later due to severe pneumonia.CONCLUSION Patients with STAT1 GOF mutation have broad clinical manifestations and may develop HLH.This form of HLH presents with normal IFN-γlevel without cytokine storm.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to composite lymphoma:Two case reports

BACKGROUND Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(HLH)is a rare and life-threatening disease caused by inherited pathogenic mutations and acquired dysregulations of the immune system.Composite lymphoma is defined as two or more morphologically and immunophenotypically distinct lymphomas that occur in a single patient.Here,we report two cases of HLH secondary to composite lymphoma with mixed lineage features of T-and B-cell marker expression both in the bone marrow and lymph nodes in adult patients.CASE SUMMARY Two patients were diagnosed with HLH based on the occurrence of fever,pancytopenia,lymphadenopathy,splenomegaly,hemophagocytosis and hyperferritinemia.Immunohistochemical staining of the axillary lymph node and bone marrow in case 1 showed typical features of combined B-cell and T-cell lymphoma.In addition,a lymph node gene study revealed rearrangement of the T-cell receptor chain and the immunoglobulin gene.Morphology and immunohistochemistry studies of a lymph node biopsy in case 2 showed typical features of T cell lymphoma,but immunophenotyping by flow cytometry analysis of bone marrow aspirate showed B cell lymphoma involvement.The patients were treated with high-dose methylprednisolone combined with etoposide to control aggressive HLH progression.The patients also received immunochemotherapy with the R-CHOP(rituximab,cyclophosphamide,doxorubicin,vincristine,and prednisone)regimen immediately after diagnosis.Both patients presented with highly aggressive lymphoma,and died of severe infection or uncontrolled HLH.CONCLUSION We present two rare cases with overwhelming hemophagocytosis along with composite T-and B-cell lymphoma,which posed a diagnostic dilemma.HLH caused by composite lymphoma was characterized by poor clinical outcomes.

Unusual presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus as hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a female patient: A case report

BACKGROUND Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(HLH) is a rare life-threatening disorder,often resulting in the immune-mediated injury of multiple organ systems,including primary HLH and secondary HLH(sHLH). Among them, sHLH results from infections, malignant, or autoimmune conditions, which have quite poor outcomes even with aggressive management and are more common in adults.CASE SUMMARY We report a rare case of a 36-year-old female manifested with sHLH on background with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). During hospitalization, the patient was characterized by recurrent high-grade fever, petechiae and ecchymoses of abdominal skin, and pulmonary infection. Whole exon gene sequencing revealed decreased activity of natural killer cells. She received systematic treatment with Methylprednisolone, Etoposide, and anti-infective drugs. Intravenous immunoglobulin and plasmapheresis were applied when the condition was extremely acute and progressive. The patient recovered and did not present any relapse of the HLH for one year of follow-up.CONCLUSION The case showed sHLH, thrombotic microvascular, and infection in the whole course of the disease, which was rarely reported by now. The treatment of the patient emphasizes that early recognition and treatment of sHLH in SLE patients was of utmost importance to improve the prognosis and survival rate of patients.

Aggressive natural killer cell leukemia with skin manifestation associated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Aggressive natural killer cell leukemia(ANKL)is a rare natural killer cell neoplasm characterized by systemic infiltration of Epstein–Barr virus and rapidly progressive clinical course.ANKL can be accompanied with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(HLH).Here,we report a case of ANKL with rare skin lesions as an earlier manifestation,accompanied with HLH,and review the literature in terms of etiology,clinical manifestation,diagnosis and treatment.CASE SUMMARY A 30-year-old woman from Northwest China presented with the clinical characteristics of jaundice,fever,erythema,splenomegaly,progressive hemocytopenia,liver failure,quantities of abnormal cells in bone marrow,and associated HLH.The immunophenotypes of abnormal cells were positive for CD2,cCD3,CD7,CD56,CD38 and negative for sCD3,CD8 and CD117.The diagnosis of ANKL complicated with HLH was confirmed.Following the initial diagnosis and supplementary treatment,the patient received chemotherapy with VDLP regimen(vincristine,daunorubicin,L-asparaginase and prednisone).However,the patient had severe adverse reactions and complication such as severe hematochezia,neutropenia,and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome,and died a few days later.CONCLUSION This is the first reported case of ANKL with rare skin lesions as an earlier manifestation and associated with HLH.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis complicated by polyserositis:A case report

BACKGROUND Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(HLH)is a rare group of disorders of immune dysregulation characterized by clinical symptoms of severe inflammation.There are basically two types of clinical scenarios:Familial HLH and sporadic HLH.It is thought that the syndrome is implicated in the development of infections,malignancies,and autoimmune diseases.HLH,whether primary or secondary,is characterized by activated macrophages in hematopoietic organs,hepatosplenomegaly,cytopenia,and fever;however,HLH complicated with polyserositis(PS)has never been reported.CASE SUMMARY We present a case of fever in a 46-year-old previously healthy Chinese woman complicated by pericardial,pleural,and abdomen effusions.She had no contact with sick individuals,recent travel,illicit drug use,or new sexual contacts.She did not consume alcohol or tobacco and lacked a family history of other diseases.Antibiotics were prescribed for suspected infection,and acute liver injury subsequently occurred.Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed mild pericardial effusion,pleural effusion,hepatosplenomegaly,and a large amount of ascites.A full blood count revealed leukopenia and thrombocytopenia.Increased ferritin and triglyceride levels were observed.The test for Epstein-Barr(EB)virus DNA was positive.This suggests that EB virus replication and EB virus infection existed.Additional studies showed hemophagocytosis in bone marrow biopsy specimens.The patient’s condition progressed rapidly.After providing symptomatic support treatment,eliminating immune stimuli,and administering comprehensive cyclosporine and dexamethasone treatment,the patient’s condition continued to progress,and the patient’s family members decided to stop treatment;the patient subsequently died.CONCLUSION This case shows the significance of considering HLH as part of the evaluation of unexplained fever and PS of unknown origin.

Efficient management of secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis with intravenous steroids and γ-immunoglobulin infusions

BACKGROUND Secondary haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(sHLH)is a rare lifethreatening condition mainly associated with underlying infections,malignancies,and autoimmune or immune-mediated diseases.AIM To analyse all sHLH cases that were diagnosed and managed under real-world circumstances in our department focusing on the treatment schedule and the outcome.METHODS Prospectively collected data from all adult patients fulfilling the criteria of sHLH who diagnosed and managed from January 1,2010 to June 1,2018,in our department of the tertiary care university hospital of Larissa,Greece,were analysed retrospectively(n=80;52%male;median age:55 years).The electronic records and/or written charts of the patients were reviewed for the demographic characteristics,clinical manifestations,underlying causes of sHLH,laboratory parameters,treatment schedule and 30-d-mortality rate.Most of patients had received after consent intravenousγ-immunoglobulin(IVIG)for 5 d(total dose 2 g/kg)in combination with intravenous steroid pulses followed by gradual tapering of prednisolone.RESULTS Seventy-five patients(94%)reported fever>38.5°C,47(59%)had liver or spleen enlargement and 76(95%)had ferritin>500 ng/mL including 20(25%)having considerably high levels(>10000 ng/mL).Anaemia and thrombocytopenia occurred in 72%and leucopoenia in 47%of them.Underlying infections were diagnosed in 59 patients(74%)as follows:leishmaniasis alone in 15/80(18.9%),leishmaniasis concurrently with Coxiella Burnetti or non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2/80(2.5%),bacterial infections in 14/80(17.5%)including one case with concurrent non-Hodgkin lymphoma,viral infections in 13/80(16.3%),fungal infections in 2/80(2.5%),infections by mycobacteria in 1/80(1.3%)and unidentified pathogens in 12/80(15%).Seventy-two patients(90%)had received combination treatment with IVIG and intravenous steroids.Overall,sHLH resolved in 76%of patients,15%died within the first month but 82.5%of patients were still alive 6 mo after diagnosis.Univariate analysis showed older age,anaemia,thrombocytopenia,low fibrinogen,disseminated intravascular coagulation(DIC),and delay of diagnosis as factors that negatively affected remission.However,multivariate analysis showed low platelets and DIC as the only independent predictors of adverse outcome.CONCLUSION sHLH still carries a remarkable morbidity and mortality.Underlying infections were the major cause and therefore,they should be thoroughly investigated in patients with sHLH.Early recognition and combination treatment with IVIG and corticosteroids seem an efficient treatment option with successful outcome in this life-threatening condition.

Fatal hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis presenting as Reye’s syndrome: Report of two cases

We report two cases of rapidly fatal hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) that presented as Reye’s syndrome (RS). The patients were referred to our hospital because of altered level of consciousness with hyperammonemia and hypoglycemia. The first patient, a 24-month-old girl (Case 1), died soon after arrival and was clinically diagnosed as having RS, but a diagnosis of HLH was established on the basis of autopsy findings. The other patient, a 4-month-old boy (Case 2), was diagnosed as having HLH in view of the bone marrow findings on admission, but immunosuppressive therapy failed to prevent a rapidly fatal course. Marked hypercytokinemia was found in both patients, and liver pathology demonstrated panlobular microvesicular steatosis of hepatocytes, resembling that in RS. Mononuclear cell infiltration with hemophagocytosis in the liver was evident in case 2, but not in case 1. In both cases, hypercytokinemia was thought to have caused mitochondrial dysfunction, resulting in RS-like microvesicular steatosis of hepatocytes. HLH is an important differential diagnosis of children presenting with RS-like picture.

Malaria-associated secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Malaria-associated secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(HLH)is rare.Moreover,the literature on malaria-associated HLH is sparse,and there are no similar cases reported in China.CASE SUMMARY We report the case of a 29-year-old woman with unexplained intermittent fever who was admitted to our hospital due to an unclear diagnosis.The patient concealed her history of travel to Nigeria before onset.We made a diagnosis of malaria-associated secondary HLH.The treatment strategy for this patient included treatment of the inciting factor(artemether for 9 d followed by artemisinin for 5 d),the use of immunosuppressants(steroids,intravenous immunoglobulin)and supportive care.The patient was discharged in normal physical condition after 25 d of intensive care.No relapses were documented on follow-up at six months and 1 year.CONCLUSION Early diagnosis of the primary disease along with timely intervention and a multidisciplinary approach can help patients achieve a satisfactory outcome.

A Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Patient Initiated with Prominent Liver Dysfunction: a Case Report

HEMOPHAGOCYTIC lymphohistiocytosis(HLH)is an aggressive and potentially fatal syndrome that results from inappropriate activation of lymphocytes and macrophages.It is characterized by fever,hepatosplenomegaly,cytopenias,hypertriglyceridemia,hypofibrinogenemia,and pathologic findings of hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow or other tissues.We report an adult HLH case admitted to hepatology department.

Treatment of Epstein-Barr virus-related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis:Study protocol of a prospective pilot study

In this manuscript, a number of debatable issues related to the diagnosis and treatment of Epstein-Barr virus-related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis(EBVHLH) will be addressed. Considering the heterogeneous nature of EBV-HLH, diagnostic efforts are required toclarify the precise nature of the disease at diagnosis, the number of EBV genome copies in peripheral blood, and localization of the EBV genome in lymphoid cells(B, T, or natural killer cells). Although the majority of cases of EBV-HLH develop without evidence of immunodeficiency, some cases have been found to be associated with chronic active EBV infection, genetic diseases such as X-linked lymphoproliferative disease(XLP, type 1, or type 2), or familial HLH(FHL, types 2-5). Due to such background heterogeneity, the therapeutic results of EBV-HLH have also been found to vary. Patients have been found to respond to corticosteroids alone or an etoposide-containing regimen, whereas other patients require hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Thus, decision-making for optimal treatment of EBVHLH and its eventual outcome requires evaluation in consideration of the precise nature of the disease. A protocol for a pilot study on the treatment of patients with EBV-HLH is presented here.