Secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistocytosis in a Child With Brucellosis

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2017 Nov;39(8):e501-e503. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000000849.

Abstract

Hemophagocytic lymphohistocytosis (HLH) is a potentially fatal hyperinflammatory syndrome that is characterized by proliferation of histiocytes and hemophagocytosis in different organs. The diagnostic criteria include fever, hepatosplenomegaly, bicytopenia, high serum ferritin level, decreased natural killer cell activity, elevated soluble CD25 level, high serum fasting triglyceride level or low fibrinogen level, and hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow, spleen, or lymph nodes. HLH can be classified as primary and secondary. Secondary HLH can be related to infections. Here we report a case of Brucella-related HLH, which has been rarely reported in the literature.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Brucellosis / complications*
  • Brucellosis / diagnosis
  • Brucellosis / drug therapy
  • Cytophagocytosis
  • Female
  • Fever
  • Hepatomegaly
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
  • Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic / diagnosis*
  • Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic / etiology*
  • Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic / therapy
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Biomarkers
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous