Clinical features and risk factors for secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in elderly patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection: a multicenter retrospective cohort study / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To explore the incidence of secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) in elderly patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, and to analyze and summarize its clinical features and risk factors for early identification of high-risk groups.Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted. From January to May 2020, No. 960 Hospital of People's Liberation Army, the Second Hospital Affiliated to Cheeloo College of Medicine of Shandong Province, the First Rehabilitation Hospital of Shandong Province, the Public Health Clinical Center Affiliated to Shandong University, and Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine received 248 patients over 60 years old who were diagnosed with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection during their assistance to Hubei or support for diagnosis and treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Shandong Province. The clinical data of patients were collected. According to the hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis diagnosis scoring (HScore) criteria, the patients were divided into sHLH group (HScore > 169) and non-sHLH group (HScore < 98). The demographic data, clinical features, laboratory results, the proportion of organ failure and 60-day mortality of patients were collected and compared between the two groups. The risk factors of sHLH and 60-day death were evaluated through binary multivariate Logistic regression analysis in elderly patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. The receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was plotted to analyze the diagnostic value of indicators only or combined for sHLH.Results:Among 248 elderly patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection, 82 patients with incomplete data and untraceable clinical outcomes, and 35 patients with HScore of 98-169 were excluded. Finally, 131 patients were enrolled in the final follow-up and statistics, including 25 patients in the sHLH group and 106 patients in the non-sHLH group. Compared with the non-sHLH group, plasma albumin (ALB), hemoglobin (Hb), lymphocyte count (LYM), platelet count (PLT), fibrinogen (Fib) and prealbumin (PAB) in the sHLH group were significantly reduced, while alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase (CK-MB), serum creatinine (SCr), C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, ferritin (Fer), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), procalcitonin (PCT), cardiac troponin I (cTnI), triglycerides (TG), interleukin-6 (IL-6), total bilirubin (TBil) were significantly higher. The fever and fatigue in the sHLH group were more severe than those in the non-sHLH group, and the patients in the sHLH group had higher rates of shock, acute kidney injury, liver dysfunction, and cardiac injury than the non-sHLH group. The 60-day mortality of patient in the sHLH group was significantly higher than that in the non-sHLH group [84.0% (21/25) vs. 40.6% (43/106), P < 0.01]. Binary multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that high Fer [odds ratio ( OR) = 0.997, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 0.996-0.998], D-dimer ( OR = 0.960, 95% CI was 0.944-0.977), LDH ( OR = 0.998, 95% CI was 0.997-0.999) and TG ( OR = 0.706, 95% CI was 0.579-0.860) were independent risk factors for sHLH in elderly patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection (all P < 0.01), while elevated Fer ( OR = 1.001, 95% CI was 1.001-1.002), LDH ( OR = 1.004, 95% CI was 1.002-1.005) and D-dimer ( OR = 1.036, 95% CI was 1.018-1.055) were independent risk factors for 60-day death of patients (all P < 0.01). The death risk of the sHLH patients was 7.692 times higher than that of the non-sHLH patients ( OR = 7.692, 95% CI was 2.466-23.987, P = 0.000). ROC curve analysis showed that a three-composite-index composed of LDH, D-dimer and TG had good diagnostic value for sHLH in elderly patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection [area under the ROC curve (AUC) = 0.920, 95% CI was 0.866-0.973, P = 0.000]. Conclusions:Elderly patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection complicated by sHLH tend to be critically ill and have refractory status and worse prognosis. High Fer, LDH, D-dimer and TG are independent risk factors for sHLH, and are highly suggestive of poor outcome. The comprehensive index composed of LDH, D-dimer and TG has good diagnostic value, and can be used as an early screening tool for sHLH in elderly patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Analysis of High-Risk Clinical Factors of Early Death in Secondary Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the high-risk clinical factors of early death in patients with secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH), and further identify the clinical factors related to the rapid progression of sHLH in the short term.@*METHODS@#The clinical manifestations, laboratory examination and prognosis of sHLH patients were retrospectively analyzed. Continuous variables were grouped by median, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival curve were used to explore the risk factors affecting early death of sHLH. Then, a nomogram model was established with independent risk factors, Bootstrap resampling method was used for verification, and consistency index (C-index) and calibration curve were used to detect the prediction accuracy.@*RESULTS@#A total of 126 sHLH patients were enrolled, with a median age of 48.5(16-88) years, including 74 males and 52 females. Fifty-five patients (43.6%) died within 30 days, including 39 males and 16 females. Univariate regression analysis showed that lymphocyte count <0.45×109/L, platelet count (PLT) <39.5×109/L, prothrombin time (PT)≥13.3 s, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT)≥39.7 s, albumin (ALB) <25.9 g/L, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)≥811 U/L, creatinine (Cr) ≥67 μmol/L and procalcitonin (PCT)≥0.61 ng/ml were risk factors for death within 30 days in sHLH patients. Multivariate regression analysis showed that lymphocyte count <0.45×109/L, APTT≥39.7 s and ALB <25.9 g/L were independent risk factors for death within 30 days in sHLH patients. A nomogram model was established based on the above three risk factors, its C-index was 0.683, and the calibration chart showed good agreement between the observed and predicted values of sHLH.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Lymphopenia, prolonged APTT, and hypoalbuminemia are risk factors for early death of sHLH patients. Early identification and positive intervention are expected to reduce early mortality in sHLH patients. The nomogram model based on the above risk factors provides a method for clinicians to evaluate sHLH.

Double trouble: hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a child with Dengue fever

The epidemic of Dengue is steadily increasing in more than 100 endemic countries. During critical phase, of this disease, shock with organ dysfunction and severe bleeding, can occur. Rarely, it can be further complicated by Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), which results from aberrant activation of immune mechanism. HLH is a rare, frequently fatal if untreated condition. It challenging to diagnose because initial symptoms mimic other conditions which are more common. Dengue induced Secondary Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), may be responsible for severe form of Dengue with adverse outcomes. We describe a case of an infant, with Dengue fever whose clinical situation deteriorated after being stable during initial phases of illness due to development of Secondary Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). The child had persistent fever, anemia, hepatomegaly with deranged coagulation which directed towards diagnosis of Secondary Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). We discuss the features of our case and its management to sensitize the clinicians to consider this condition in patients with severe Dengue fever.

Clinical analysis of secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis complicated with capillary leak syndrome / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the clinical characteristics of secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) complicated with capillary leak syndrome (CLS) .@*Methods@#The clinical and laboratory data of 87 sHLH patients, who were treated in our hospital between January 2015 and December 2017, were retrospectively analyzed. Depending on whether they were complicated with CLS, 21 sHLH patients were classified as the CLS-sHLH group, while 66 were classified as the non-CLS-sHLH group. The differences of clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, treatment and prognosis between the two groups were compared.@*Results@#There was no significant difference in the etiology of sHLH between the CLS-sHLH group and the non-CLS-sHLH group (P>0.05) . The neutrophil, fibrinogen and albumin levels in the CLS-sHLH group were lower than those in the non-CLS-sHLH group, while the triacylglycerol levels were higher than those in the non-CLS-sHLH group (P<0.05) . Varying degrees of edema, weight gain, hypotension, hypoproteinemia, oliguria and multiple serous effusions were observed in the CLS-sHLH group. Among them, there were 15 patients that CLS get improved, and the medial time of improvement was 7 (5-14) days. The other 6 patients did not get remission, while they died within 6-30 days. The median overall survival of the CLS-sHLH group was lower than that of the non-CLS-sHLH group (75 days vs not reached, P=0.031) .@*Conclusions@#There may be no correlation between the cause of sHLH and the occurrence of CLS. Severity of neutropenia, fibrinogen and albumin levels, and triglyceride levels may be accompanied for sHLH patients complicated with CLS. Patients with sHLH who complicated with CLS have a poor prognosis. Active treatment of HLH and its primary disease, reasonable fluid replacement and oxygen supply are crucial, which can effectively control disease progression.

Clinical analysis of secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis complicated with capillary leak syndrome / 中华血液学杂志

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) complicated with capillary leak syndrome (CLS) . Methods: The clinical and laboratory data of 87 sHLH patients, who were treated in our hospital between January 2015 and December 2017, were retrospectively analyzed. Depending on whether they were complicated with CLS, 21 sHLH patients were classified as the CLS-sHLH group, while 66 were classified as the non-CLS-sHLH group. The differences of clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, treatment and prognosis between the two groups were compared. Results: There was no significant difference in the etiology of sHLH between the CLS-sHLH group and the non-CLS-sHLH group (P>0.05) . The neutrophil, fibrinogen and albumin levels in the CLS-sHLH group were lower than those in the non-CLS-sHLH group, while the triacylglycerol levels were higher than those in the non-CLS-sHLH group (P<0.05) . Varying degrees of edema, weight gain, hypotension, hypoproteinemia, oliguria and multiple serous effusions were observed in the CLS-sHLH group. Among them, there were 15 patients that CLS get improved, and the medial time of improvement was 7 (5-14) days. The other 6 patients did not get remission, while they died within 6-30 days. The median overall survival of the CLS-sHLH group was lower than that of the non-CLS-sHLH group (75 days vs not reached, P=0.031) . Conclusions: There may be no correlation between the cause of sHLH and the occurrence of CLS. Severity of neutropenia, fibrinogen and albumin levels, and triglyceride levels may be accompanied for sHLH patients complicated with CLS. Patients with sHLH who complicated with CLS have a poor prognosis. Active treatment of HLH and its primary disease, reasonable fluid replacement and oxygen supply are crucial, which can effectively control disease progression.

The clinical significance of serum neopterin and adenosine deaminase in patients with secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis / 中华内科杂志

Objective To investigate the significance of plasma neopterin (Npt) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) in patients with secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH).Methods Serum specimens from 39 patients with newly diagnosed sHLH,10 sHLH patients who had achieved clinical remission after treatment,and 15 healthy controls were collected.Serum Npt level was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and ADA activity was tested by kinetic method.Results Npt and ADA values in sHLH group were significantly higher than those in control group [Npt:(164.6 ± 90.0) nmol/L vs (7.9 ± 3.6) nmol/L; ADA:(117.2 ± 70.2) U/L vs (11.6 ± 4.0) U/L; all P ＜ 0.001].Among the 10 sHLH patients who obtained effective clinical treatment,posttreatment levels of Npt and ADA were significantly lower than pretreatment data [Npt:(17.5 ± 10.9) nmol/L vs (170.6 ± 117.9) nmol/L ; ADA:(22.5 ± 15.5) U/L vs (98.8 ± 52.6) U/L; all P ＜ 0.05].The Npt level in sHLH patients was positively correlated with the levels of serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sCD25) and serum ferritin (r =0.526 and r =0.507) ; while ADA activity had linear relationship with the level of lactate dehydrogenase (r =0.646).Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that 148.1 nmol/L was the critical value of serum Npt for the diagnosis of lymphoma associated hemophagocytic syndrome (LAHS) and the sensitivity and specificity were 70.0％ and 78.9％,respectively.As to ADA,103.1 U/L was the critical value for the diagnosis of LAHS and the sensitivity and specificity were 75.0％ and 84.2％,respectively.The sensitivity and specificity of combined parameters of Npt and ADA were 90.0％ and 94.7％,respectively.Conclusions It is concluded that Npt and ADA have great importance in the diagnosis and evaluation of therapeutic effect in patients with sHLH.Npt and ADA provide potential evidence to diagnose patients who are suspected with LAHS.