1/182. Encephalopathy associated with haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis following rotavirus infection.A 2-year-old Japanese boy with a haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) associated encephalopathy which developed after rotavirus infection is described. The neurological symptoms consisted of coma, seizures and spastic quadriplegia. On therapy with steroids, etoposide and cyclosporin A, the patient recovered without any neurological deficits. The interferon-gamma levels in serum and CSF were elevated at onset of the disease but had returned to normal at the time of clinical remission. brain MRI revealed diffuse white matter abnormalities and parenchymal volume loss. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed elevated lactate in the abnormal lesions observed on MRI, indicating that macrophages not exhibiting aerobic metabolism had infiltrated the CNS. At the time of clinical remission, the white matter abnormalities and brain lactate had disappeared. These findings suggested that the neurological symptoms resulted from the overproduction of cytokines by activated T-cells and macrophages. The pathophysiology of a HLH associated encephalopathy was considered to be a local immune response within the CNS, because interferon-gamma can induce the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I and II antigens on glial cells in the CNS. CONCLUSION: Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis associated encephalopathy should be considered early in the differential diagnosis of cases with acute onset neuropathy.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/182. Two separate episodes of hemophagocytic syndrome at a two-year interval in an apparently immunocompetent male.We describe two separate episodes of hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) at an interval of two years in a seemingly immunocompetent male. This case suggests the possible existence of an inherent predisposition to HPS, in which otherwise negligible self-limited viral infection may trigger HPS. Laboratory data for a 16-year-old boy admitted with persistent high grade fever and severe thrombocytopenia disclosed coagulation abnormality, liver damage, and hypercytokinemia. A bone marrow aspiration revealed a proliferation of histiocytes with fresh hemophagocytosis. We diagnosed that he was suffering from HPS. Responding to steroid pulse therapy, he recovered completely and was discharged. After two years of healthy life, he became febrile again and was readmitted. The fever was refractory to antibiotics and was associated with a sudden drop in platelet count. Laboratory data and the bone marrow picture were consistent with those of HPS. He was again successfully treated with steroid. After the second episode, he has been healthy for more than two years.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/182. Epstein-Barr virus related hemophagocytic syndrome in a T-cell rich B-cell lymphoma.We report the case of a 30-year-old woman who presented with an EBV related hemophagocytic syndrome. After a few months she developed a T-cell rich B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with liver involvement. Serological data demonstrated a reactivation of the EBV infection. Tumor progression with liver involvement occurred during treatment with conventional chemotherapy. Tumor reduction and disappearance of all masses was seen after starting high-dose sequential chemotherapy, followed by an autologous peripheral blood progenitor transplantation LMP-1 could be amplified in the tumor material by PCR technology, but no LMP-1 expression could be found in the few malignant B-cells with Reed-Sternberg morphology. sequence analysis of the carboxy terminal of the LMP-1 region revealed the naturally occurring 30 bp deletion variant of the LMP-1 with multiple point mutations within the NF kb region. Since LMP-1 was not expressed in the malignant tumor cells, no evidence could be found, that EBV participated in the tumorigenesis of this case.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/182. Clonal change of infiltrating T-cells in children with familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: possible association with Epstein-Barr virus infection.BACKGROUND: Although familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) has been considered a T-cell disorder, to the authors' knowledge there are no previous reports on the clonal basis of FHL. In the current study the authors analyzed the clonality of T-cells in two FHL patients at the time of disease onset and at disease progression. methods: Patient 1 had FHL and died of recurrent disease 4 months after bone marrow transplantation (BMT). His liver and spleen showed massive infiltrations of CD3 , CD4-, and CD8 T-cells. The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome was detected by in situ hybridization. Patient 2 also had FHL and died of progressive disease 9 weeks after the onset of disease despite chemotherapy. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed positive EBV genome in the peripheral blood, liver, and spleen of Patient 2. In the two patients, T-cell receptor-beta and alpha-chain variable region (TCR Vbeta and V alpha) repertoires in peripheral mononuclear cells were analyzed at the time of disease onset and at disease progression by the inverse PCR method. When a high usage (> 15%) of a specific Vbeta family member was observed, a clonal analysis was performed by PCR using beta-chain joining region (Jbeta) primers. The clonality of specific Vbeta-Jbeta fragments was confirmed by a single strand confirmation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. RESULTS: Although there was no preferential usage of Vbeta in Patient 1, the exclusive expression of Jbeta1.2 for Vbeta13 was observed. A high frequency of Vbeta13 also was observed at the time of disease progression, but the Jbeta fragment for Vbeta13 was polyclonal. In Patient 2, the restricted usage of Jbeta1.6 for Vbeta5a was observed at the time of disease onset, whereas Jbeta1.1 and 1.2 for Vbeta4 were observed exclusively at the time of disease progression. The clonality of Vbeta13-Jbeta1.2 in Patient 1 and Vbeta5a-Jbeta1.6 and Vbeta4-Jbeta1.1/Jbeta1.2 in Patient 2 was confirmed by SSCP analysis. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the polyclonal T-cell lymphoproliferative disease associated with EBV was induced after BMT in Patient 1, and that the clonal change of expanded T-cells also was induced by EBV in Patient 2. The clonal analysis of T-cells is a useful tool to clarify the pathogenesis of FHL.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.8keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/182. The efficacy of therapeutic plasmapheresis for the treatment of fatal hemophagocytic syndrome: two case reports.A potentially fatal hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) has been noted in patients with reactive HPS. We describe 2 patients with reactive HPS treated with a regimen of therapeutic plasmapheresis and evaluate the efficacy of plasmapheresis for fatal HPS. Case 1 was a 31 year-old woman who had been treated for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with corticosteroid hormones and immunosuppressants. She presented with persistent leukopenia and thrombocytopenia with spiking fever. She had an elevated level of serum ferritin, liver dysfunction, coagulopathy, and plasma inflammatory cytokines. Her bone marrow smear disclosed numerous hemophagocytosis of histiocytes. She was administered therapeutic plasmapheresis with total plasma exchange by fresh frozen plasma. There was an immediate and prominent decrease of cytokines, and she completely recovered. Case 2 was a 34 year-old woman who had been receiving high doses of corticosteroids and plasmapheresis for severe Stevens-Johnson's syndrome. After 18 months, she presented with physical and laboratory findings resembling lupus-like conditions and was administered high doses of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. Human parvovirus B19 infection was detected by IgM and IgG antibodies and viral dna from a bone marrow sample; moreover, a bone marrow smear disclosed findings of HPS. Repeated therapeutic plasmapheresis was effective for improving her symptoms and laboratory abnormalities; however, she suffered from septic methicilline resistant staphylococcus aureus infection and finally died of a brain hemorrhage resulting from disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.4keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/182. The spectrum of reactive hemophagocytic syndrome in systemic lupus erythematosus.We address the relationship between reactive hemophagocytic syndrome (RHS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) activity, and treatment in 4 female patients with SLE. Febrile pancytopenia was related to cytologically proven RHS in all patients. Followup was 45 /-7 months from RHS onset. No causal infection could be identified. Outcome could be classified as: (1) RHS onset during a SLE flare and complete efficacy of high dose steroids; (2) death despite therapy for concomitant severe RHS and active SLE; (3) severe RHS in inactive SLE under immunosuppressants, with remission after steroid tapering and cyclophosphamide withdrawal. Three patients were treated with intravenous IgG. We conclude that (1) when SLE is active, RHS should be considered a specific manifestation and treated with steroids; (2) RHS occurring in otherwise inactive SLE might be related to iatrogenic immunosuppression; (3) intravenous IgG treatment might be indicated in both situations.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/182. Fatal virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome associated with coexistent chronic active hepatitis b and acute hepatitis c virus infection.A 28-year-old man was admitted to our department with intermittent fever, hepatosplenomegaly and pancytopenia. Liver parameters and serum ferritin were markedly elevated. Bone marrow biopsy showed hypocellularity, histiocytic hyperplasia, and hemophagocytosis consistent with a virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS). There was serological evidence of chronic active hepatitis b and acute hepatitis c virus infection. The patient died despite aggressive immunosuppressive and supportive treatment. autopsy revealed signs of acute viral hepatitis with cholestasis. histiocytes engaged in hemophagocytosis were observed in bone marrow and spleen. The condition was interpreted as VAHS associated with chronic active hepatitis b and acute hepatitis c virus infection. To our knowledge this is the first report of a hemophagocytic syndrome in that setting.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.2keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/182. Aplastic anemia after mycoplasma pneumoniae infection: a report of two cases.Two very unusual cases of aplastic anemia complicating mycoplasma infection are described. Each patient had preexisting hematologic abnormalities at the time of the infection: reactive hemophagocytic syndrome in one, and autoimmune hemolytic anemia associated with cold autoantibodies in the other. This adds another entity to the protean manifestations of mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1.4keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/182. Marked histiocytosis in the portal tract in a patient with reactive hemophagocytic syndrome: An autopsy case.We report an autopsy case of reactive hemophagocytic syndrome with peculiar liver histology. A 71-year-old female was diagnosed as having acute myelogenous leukemia and treated with chemotherapy. During her course, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was noted in blood culture and she was diagnosed as having MRSA sepsis. She died of respiratory failure 5 months after the onset of leukemia and 10 days after the MRSA sepsis. Ante-mortem liver function tests were within normal ranges. At autopsy, myeloblastic leukemia cells positive for CD13 were present in the bone marrow and, to a much lesser extent, in the spleen and liver. Numerous histiocytes of a bland appearance with erythrophagocytosis were noted in the bone marrow and spleen. The histiocytes were positive for CD68, but negative for S-100 and lysozymes. In the liver, many histiocytes of bland appearance with erythrophagocytosis and CD68 positivity were present in the portal tracts with no Kupffer cell hyperplasia. There were no hepatocellular degeneration, fatty changes or sinusoidal dilations. We consider that this histiocytosis was associated with MRSA infection and diagnosed this as infection-associated hemophagocytic syndrome. In previously reported cases, hemophagocytosis in hyperplastic kupffer cells was the main liver change of reactive hemophagocytic syndrome. The present case suggests that marked histiocytosis in portal tracts only may be a main feature of liver changes in reactive hemophagocytic syndrome and that such cases may not show abnormal liver function tests.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.4keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/182. Recurrent viral associated hemophagocytic syndrome in a child with Langerhans cell histiocytosis.Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) with subsequent viral-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS) or secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is extremely rare. A 15-month-old girl with disseminated LCH experienced three episodes of VAHS during maintenance therapy. Viral infection, with influenza A, herpes simplex, and adenovirus, respectively, was documented at each episode. She recovered each time after interruption of maintenance therapy. The occurrence of fever and pancytopenia in patients with chemotherapy-treated LCH can be associated with VAHS and not with relapsing LCH.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.2keywords = infection (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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