An autopsy series of an oft-missed ante-mortem diagnosis: hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and potentially fatal syndrome resulting from a hyperactivated immune system. Diverse patient profiles and clinical presentations often result in misdiagnosis. This article describes the varied clinical presentations and autopsy findings in three patients with this entity. The etiopathogenesis of HLH, its disparate and confounding clinical features, the diagnostic criteria, and management principles are also briefly reviewed.

Hemophagocytosis by blasts in a child with acute monocytic leukemia after chemotherapy / Hemofagocitose por células blásticas em paciente pediátrico com leucemia monocítica aguda após quimioterapia

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the case of a child who presented hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) associated with acute monocytic leukemia after chemotherapy, with hemophagocytosis caused by leukemic cells. Case description: In a university hospital in Southern Brazil, a 3-year-old female was diagnosed with acute monocytic leukemia with normal karyotype. The chemotherapy regimen was initiated, and she achieved complete remission six months later, relapsing after four months with a complex karyotype involving chromosomes 8p and 16q. The bone marrow showed vacuolated blasts with a monocytic aspect and evidence of hemophagocytosis. The child presented progressive clinical deterioration and died two months after the relapse. Comments: HLH is a rare and aggressive inflammatory condition characterized by cytopenias, hepatosplenomegaly, fever, and hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, and liver. Although rare, malignancy-associated HLH (M-HLH) is fatal. The patient in this case report met five out of the eight established criteria for HLH. The evolution of the patient's karyotype, regardless of the diagnostic profile, seemed secondary to the treatment for acute monocytic leukemia. In this case, the cytogenetic instability might have influenced the abnormal behavior of leukemic cells. This is a rare case of HLH in a child with acute monocytic leukemia.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever um caso de um paciente pediátrico que apresentou linfo-histiocitose hemofagocítica (LHH) associada à leucemia monocítica aguda pós-quimioterapia, com hemofagocitose causada pelas próprias células leucêmicas. Descrição do caso: Em um hospital universitário do Sul do Brasil, uma menina de três anos foi diagnosticada com leucemia monocítica aguda com cariótipo normal. Após receber protocolo quimioterápico, atingiu remissão seis meses depois do início do tratamento, recaíndo quatro meses após com um cariótipo complexo envolvendo ambos os cromossomos, 8p e 16q. A medula óssea mostrava-se infiltrada por células blásticas vacuolizadas com aspecto monocítico, com evidências de hemofagocitose. A criança apresentou um declínio clínico progressivo e dois meses após a recaída foi a óbito. Comentários: A LHH é uma condição inflamatória rara e agressiva caracterizada por citopenias, hepatoesplenomegalia, febre e hemofagocitose na medula óssea, linfonodos, baço e fígado. A LHH associada a doenças malignas, embora seja uma condição rara, é potencialmente fatal. A paciente deste caso apresentou cinco dos oito critérios estabelecidos para o diagnóstico de LHH. A evolução do cariótipo do paciente, independentemente do perfil do diagnóstico, pareceu ser secundária ao tratamento da leucemia monocítica aguda, sendo que a instabilidade citogenética pode ter influenciado o comportamento atípico observado nas células leucêmicas. Este é um dos raros casos de LHH em uma criança com leucemia monocítica aguda.

Fatal familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis with perforin gene (PRF1) mutation and EBV-associated T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder of the thyroid

Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) is a rare fatal autosomal recessive disorder of immune dysregulation. The disease presents most commonly in the first year of life; however, symptomatic presentation throughout childhood and adulthood has also been identified. Biallelic mutation in the perforin gene is present in 20%­50% of all cases of FHL. Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in association with hematological malignancies is known; however, whether mutations in HLH-associated genes can be associated with FHL and hematolymphoid neoplasms is not well documented. Also, Epstein­Barr-virus- (EBV) positive systemic T-cell lymphoproliferative disease (SE-LPD) in the setting of FHL is not clearly understood. Here, we present the case of a young boy who presented with typical features of childhood FHL harboring the perforin gene (PRF1) mutation, and had SE-LPD diagnosed on autopsy, along with evidence of recent EBV infection. The patient expired due to progressive disease. Five siblings died in the second or third decade of life with undiagnosed disease. Genetic counseling was provided to the two surviving siblings and parents, but they could not afford genetic testing. One surviving sibling has intermittent fever and is on close follow-up for possible bone marrow transplantation.

Diagnóstico postmortem de un caso con síndrome hemofagocítico secundario / Postmortem diagnosis of a case with secondary hemophagocytic syndrome

Introducción: El síndrome hemofagocítico, llamado también linfohistiocitosis hemofagocítica o síndrome de activación macrofágica, es una grave enfermedad que se caracteriza por la activación exagerada del sistema inmune y aumento de la actividad linfocítica citotóxica y macrofágica, que puede ser potencialmente fatal. Objetivo: Describir un caso con este síndrome poco frecuente pero de alta mortalidad. Presentación del caso: Paciente de 10 meses, nacido de parto eutócico, a término, normopeso, con antecedentes de ingreso a los dos meses por sepsis, con aumento de las transaminasas y adenopatías cervicales. Se realizó biopsia del ganglio cervical y se diagnosticó adenitis granulomatosa. En esta ocasión, cuatro días antes del ingreso comenzó con fiebre y decaimiento; al examen físico presentó tiraje intercostal bajo, polipnea superficial, hepatomegalia y esplenomegalia. Exámenes complementarios, presentó anemia, transaminasas, albúmina y proteínas totales elevadas; orina con pigmentos biliares y cuerpos cetónicos positivos; plaquetas 100 x 109. Los especialistas de gastroenterología plantearon una colestasis del lactante. El paciente falleció y en la necropsia se constató una hepatoesplenomegalia, hígado amarillento, adenopatías mesentéricas y peripancreáticas, pulmones hemorrágicos con aumento de consistencia; en el estudio microscópico se encontró en hígado, bazo, médula ósea, y ganglios linfáticos, histiocitos con hemofagocítosis. Conclusiones: El síndrome hemofagocítico es una enfermedad poco frecuente que muchas veces no se sospecha y pasa inadvertido, por lo tanto hay que pensar en dicha entidad porque tiene implicaciones pronósticas graves para el paciente, como puede ser un desenlace fatal(AU)

Introduction: The hemophagocytic syndrome, also called hemophagocyticlymphohistiocytosis or macrophage activation´s syndrome is a serious disease characterized by exaggerated activation of the immune system and increased cytotoxic lymphocytic and macrophage activity, which can be potentially fatal. Objective: To describe a case with this rare syndrome with a high mortality rate, and the diagnosis was made postmortem in our hospital. Case presentation: A 10-month-old patient, born by natural delivery, with normal weight, with a history of admission at 2 months due to sepsis, with increased transaminases levels and cervical adenopathies. A cervical lymph node biopsy was performed, and granulomatous adenitis was diagnosed. On this occasion, four days before admission, he presented fever and weakness; physical examination revealed low intercostals retraction, superficial polypnea, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. The complementary tests showed anemia, transaminases, albumin and total proteins with high levels; urine had bile pigments and positive ketone bodies; platelets 100 x 109. Gastroenterology specialists set out cholestasis of the infant. The patient died and at necropsy there were evidences of hepato splenomegaly, yellowish liver, mesenteric and peripancreatic adenopathies, hemorrhagic lungs with increased consistency. In the microscopic study, histiocytes with hemophagocytosis were found in liver, spleen, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. Conclusions: The hemophagocytic syndrome is a rare disease that often goes unnoticed. It has serious prognostic implications for the patient with a fatal outcome(AU)

Nasal-type extranodal T-cell/NK lymphoma in association with hemophagocytic syndrome

Abstract: Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma nasal type is a rare disease that mainly affects the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses of males in the fifth decade of life. It has aggressive and locally destructive behaviour, and can be complicated by the hemophagocytic syndrome, conferring high lethality to the disease. This article describes a case of NK/T-cell lymphoma nasal type in a previously healthy patient, exemplifying its rapid and fulminant course.

Necrolisis epidérmica tóxica en el curso de un síndrome hemofagocítico secundario a linfoma de Hodgkin: caso clínico / Toxic epidermal necrolysis during a hemophagocytic syndrome secondary to Hodgkin lymphoma: report of one case

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is a lethal entity, characterized by extensive epidermal necrosis and multiorgan failure. Hemophagocytic syndrome (HFS) is also a rare and lethal syndrome characterized by hyperinflammation that leads to the appearance of fever, pancytopenia, organomegaly and hemophagocytosis. The concomitance of these diseases is extremely uncommon. We report a 38 years old female, who during the course of a HFS secondary to Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL), presented a TEN secondary to antibiotics. She was admitted due to a consumptive syndrome, lymphadenopathy, visceromegaly and severe pancytopenia. Laboratory and bone marrow tests confirmed HFS. Due to constant fever, imipenem was indicated. On the third day she started with pain and skin rash. She evolved with positive Nikolsky sign. Cutaneous biopsy was concordant with extensive TEN, which was managed with intravenous immunoglobulin and dexamethasone. A complete response and normalization of the blood count were achieved. Finally, the lymph node biopsy showed HL of mixed cellularity type, which was managed with 8 cycles of ABVD chemotherapy, achieving complete remission.

Síndrome hematofagocítico: Reporte de cuatro casos y revisión de la literatura / Hemophagocytic syndrome: Report of four cases

Hemophagocytic syndrome (HS) is a severe hyper inflammatory condition whose cardinal symptoms are prolonged fever, cytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, and hemophagocytosis by activated, morphologically benign macrophages. The clinical course resembles sepsis, sharing similar physiopathological features. We report four patients with the syndrome. A 61-year-old female presenting with fever and pleuritic pain. During the course of the disease, a pancytopenia was detected and a bone marrow aspiration was suggestive of HS. The patient was treated with cyclosporine and steroids with a good response. A 61-year-old male with fever and pancytopenia and a bone marrow aspirate suggestive of HS. The patient did not respond to treatment and died. A 23-year-old male with fever, pancytopenia and positive Hanta virus antibodies. A bone marrow aspirate was suggestive of HS. The patient recovered without any treatment. A 72-year-old male admitted with the diagnosis of pneumonia, that developed a progressive pancytopenia and bone marrow aspirate was suggestive of HS. A bronchoalveolar lavage showed the presence of Acinetobacter baumanii. Despite treatment with methylprednisolone and gammaglobulin, the patient died. Awareness of the clinical symptoms and of the diagnostic criteria of HS is important to start life-saving therapy in time.

Difficulties in the diagnosis of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis [HLH] is characterized by proliferation and non-malignant activation of histiocytes and T lymphocytes in the reticuloendothelial system. Diagnostic guidelines include fever, splenomegaly, cytopenia, hypertriglyceridemia and / or hypofibrinogenemia with hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow, spleen or lymph nodes. In many patients diagnosis is difficult due to lack of diagnostic criteria, hemophagocytosis, variability of clinical presentation, spontaneous improvement and the absence of a specific marker of the disease. When there is strong clinical suspicion of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis [FHL], chemotherapy and immunosuppressor treatment should be started early to achieve complete cure and should be followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We present a case of a 13 months old boy who presented with fever, anemia and thrombocytopenia, enlarged liver and spleen, hyperferritinemia, hypertriglyceridemia and hypertransaminasemia without the finding of hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow. The patient improved spontaneously but presented with reactivation of the disease six weeks later and died after few weeks

Síndrome hemofagocítico reactivo en pacientes graves: Comunicación de 4 casos / Reactive hemophagocytic syndrome in critical care patients. Report of 4 cases

El síndrome hemofagocítico reactivo, o linfohistiocitosis hemofagocítica secundaria, comprende un grupo numeroso de enfermedades, muchas de ellas de causa infecciosa, caracterizado por hemofagocitosis con citopenia de al menos dos de las tres series sanguíneas, aumento de los niveles de citoquinas y de la ferritina sérica. El cuadro clínico comprende manifestaciones inflamatorias sistémicas semejantes a la sepsis, entidad muy frecuente en las unidades de Terapia Intensiva, y posee elementos fisiopatológicos en común con ella. Proponemos mediante la presentación de cuatro casos clínicos, considerar al síndrome hemofagocítico reactivo como una entidad frecuente en los pacientes graves, con pruebas sencillas para orientar a qué pacientes realizar un procedimiento diagnóstico. Por último actualizamos los tratamientos específicos conocidos.

Reactive hemophagocytic syndrome or hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis comprises a variety of disorders, many of them associated with infection. It is characterized by hemophagocytosis, with cytopenia involving at least two cellular lines, increase in cytokines and serum ferritin. The clinical course resembles sepsis, sharing similar physiopathological features. We propose that hemophagocytic syndrome is an underdiagnosed entity in the critical care setting; simple tests aid to identify which patients should undergo diagnostic procedures. We discuss current therapeutic approaches.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a neonate with cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita

In this case report we describe the first case of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis with concurrent cutis marmorata telangiectatica congenita. She had pancytopenia and hepatosplenomegaly, hemophagocytic cells in spleen necropsy, and she died with respiratory failure and pseudomonas induced septicemia