DOI: 10.12890/2014_000099
HIV Infection Presenting as Haemophagocytic Syndrome
Authors
nevessp@gmail.com
Abstract
The authors describe a case of a 48-year-old man who presented with four weeks of fever, generalized malaise, weight loss, right upper quadrant abdominal pain and hepatosplenomegaly. He evolved with pancytopenia, bone marrow haemophagocytosis and hyperferritinaemia. Recent diagnosis of HIV infection, with the exclusion of other plausible causes, prompted the diagnosis of haemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) secondary to HIV. Despite intensive care support and initiation of antiretroviral therapy, the patient died. HPS diagnosis secondary to HIV alone demands the exclusion of all the other secondary causes. The best approach includes early diagnosis and specific treatment of the associated cause, whenever possible.
References
- Doyle T, Bhagani S, Cwynarski K. Haemophagocytic syndrome and HIV. Curr Opin Infect Dis 2009;22:1–6.
- Janka G, Imashuku S, Elinder G, Schneider M, Henter JI. Infection and malignancy associated hemophagocytic syndromes. Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 1998;12:435–444.
- Emmenegger U, Schaer DJ, Larroche C, Neftel KA. Haemophagocytic syndromes in adults: current concepts and challenges ahead. Swiss Med Wkly 2005;165:299–314.
- Henter JI, Horne A, Aricó M, Egeler RM, Filipovich AH, Imashuku S et al. HLH-2004: diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2007;48:124–131.
- Fardet L, Lambotte O, Meynard JL, Kamouh W, Galicier L, Marzac C et al. Reactive haemophagocytic syndrome in 58 HIV-1 infected patients: clinical features, underlying diseases and prognosis. AIDS 2010;24:1299–1306.
