Treatment outcomes and prognostic analysis of 61 Epstein-Barr virus-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the outcomes, survival status, and the prognostic factors of Epstein-Barr virus-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective study was carried out to analyze the clinical data of 61 EBV-HLH cases, from January 2008 to July 2014. Prognostic factors were analyzed through COX model (single factor and multiple factors).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 246 patients with HLH were diagnosed, among which 102 cases were with EBV infection (including 61 EBV-HLH, 36 lymphoma associated HLH, 5 primary HLH. Among the 61 cases, 40 were male and 21 were female, with a ration of 1.9:1. The median age was 28 years (range, 12-78). 1, 3, 6 and 12-month overall survival rates of 61 EBV-HLH were 65.6%, 47.5%, 32.4%, and 25.0%, respectively. The median follow-up time was 3 (0.5-28) months. 12 patients didn't use etoposide within 4 weeks after diagnosis, while HLH-94 protocol was used in 33 patients and HLH-2004 protocol was used in 16 patients. Response rates of theses three groups were 33.3%, 51.5%, and 43.8%, respectively (P=0.401). There was statistically difference between the group without etoposide and the HLH-94/ HLH-2004 group in the overall survival rate (P=0.033). Serum albumin level (P=0.033) and whether EBV could became negative (P=0.010) were independent predictors for EBV-HLH.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EBV-HLH patients have severe clinical feature and poor prognosis. Early application of immune chemotherapy based on etoposide can improve survival. Serum albumin level and whether EBV can become negative are independent prognostic factors for survival.</p>

Clinical characteristics of 192 adult hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical manifestations, laboratory data, therapy, and prognosis in patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective study was carried out in 192 adult patients with HLH between 2003 and 2013.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 192 cases, 70 cases were secondary to cancer and 64 cases secondary to infection. According to HLH-2004 criteria, the coincidence rate of indices were: fever (98.96%), high level of serum ferritin (94.27%), increased level of soluble interleukin- 2 receptor(sCD25) (94.79%), decreased or absent activity of NK cells (94.27%), cytopenias (80.73%), splenomegaly (80.21%), emophagocytosis in bone marrow, spleen or lymph nodes (74.48%), hypofibrinogenemia (50.52%), hypertriglyceridemia (37.50%). In addition, 94.27% of patients were presented with liver dysfunction, 96.35% with infections, and 75.52% with coagulopathy. Incidences of central nervous system symptoms and rash were 19.27% and 20.31%, respectively. Among cancer, infection and rheumatic group, there were statistically differences on white blood cells (WBC), platelet (PLT), sCD25, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin and globulin(GLO) (P<0.05). The differences of WBC, PLT, albumin (ALB), GLO, brain natriuretic peptide, creatinine, urea nitrogen between survival group and death group had statistical significance.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The secondary HLH occurs from various underlined diseases. Cancer, especially T- cell lymphoma, is the main cause, Secondly, it is EB virus infection. The diagnostic sensitive indicators are Persistent fever, higher level of serum ferritin, low or absent NK-cell activity, and increased sCD25 were the most valuable parameters for diagnosis. Cytopenias were not common in early phase of HLH secondary to rheumatic diseases. WBC, PLT, ALB, GLO could be used as the preliminary parameters for diagnosis. Cardiac insufficiency, renal insufficiency and coagulation dysfunction play important roles in prognosis.</p>