Ruxolitinib as an Effective Treatment for Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Secondary to SARS-Cov-2 Infection: A Case Report

Lina Wang; Xiaolin Zhang; Bo Huang; Yue Hou; Xinmin Liu; Hongmei Jiao

doi:10.2147/IDR.S384035

Ruxolitinib as an Effective Treatment for Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Secondary to SARS-Cov-2 Infection: A Case Report

Infect Drug Resist. 2023 Apr 26:16:2467-2473. doi: 10.2147/IDR.S384035. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Lina Wang¹, Xiaolin Zhang¹, Bo Huang¹, Yue Hou¹, Xinmin Liu¹, Hongmei Jiao¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Geriatrics, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China.

Abstract

Background: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome. SARS-CoV-2 infection can induce secondary HLH, as described in previous case reports, but diagnosis and treatment are challenging.

Case study: We described an older male patient diagnosed with HLH related to previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Fever was the only clinical manifestation initially but deterioration in clinical condition and laboratory parameters was observed during hospitalization. He responded poorly to classical therapy but was successfully treated with ruxolitinib.

Conclusion: Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of HLH secondary to mild SARS-CoV-2 infection and take timely therapeutic measures to inhibit an inflammatory factor storm. Ruxolitinib is a potential choice for COVID-19 related HLH.

Keywords: COVID-19; case report; hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis; ruxolitinib.

Publication types

Case Reports

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the China Central Health Research Fund grant number 2022YB36 and Xicheng District Financial Science and Technology Special Project (XCSTS-SD2021-02).