Abstract
Macrophage Activation Syndrome is a rare, fatal disease which needs to be considered in patients with a SIRS(systemic inflammatory response syndrome) like clinical presentation. Here,we report a case of enteric fever masquerading as hemophagocytic syndrome for its rarity and unusual presentation.
Introduction
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) or macrophage activation syndrome is a rare and potentially fatal disorder of normal overactive histiocytes1,2,3. In hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis there is an abnormal activation of normal T cells and macrophages resulting in clinical and hematological alterations. Many clinical features of this syndrome mimic SIRS and death is inevitable in the absence of treatment1,2,3 .This case is being reported to enlighten the general physicians regarding the clinical entity of macrophage activation syndrome especially in patients presenting with fever unresponsive to antibiotics,unexplained cytopenia and liver dysfunction with elevated ferritin.Hemophagocytic syndrome has been uncommonly reported in association with enteric fever4,5,6,7,8. Moreover, acquired infection associated HLH has a high fatality rate of 50% in children. If a treatable organism is found, appropriate therapy should be given but anti-infectious therapy may not be sufficient to control HLH. The immediate aim of treatment is to suppress hypercytokinemia.9
Case
An 18 year old female was admitted in our emergency ward with ten days history of continuous fever associated with chills, rigors and sweating. Subsequently patient developed cough which was productive of mucopurulent sputum. Apart from fever and pallor, general physical examination was unremarkable.
Systemic examination revealed rales in right infrascapular area and splenomegaly 3cm below left costal margin.Hemogram revealed: [Hb à 8.6gm/dl,TLC à 2200/ml,DLC à N54 L37 M9,Platelet à34000/ml,MCV à 87 fl., ESR à 35mm,PBF à marked pancytopenia with normocytic normochromic anemia]. Except for transaminitis [SGOT =115 and SGPT =135],her serum chemistry was normal.Chest skiagram,electrocardiogram,urinalysis,septic screen(blood/urine cultures) were unrewarding.Abdominal sonography revealed splenomegaly of 15cm.Widal reaction was positive in titres of TO 1:320 and TH 1:160.Brucella Serology and evaluation for tuberculosis was negative. In view of fever, splenomegaly and pancotypenia, bone marrow aspiration was performed which revealed hypercellular marrow with myeloid hyperplasia with an increase in hemophagocytic macrophages. Erythropoiesis was normoblastic. Bone marrow culture yielded salmonella typhi after 48 hours of incubation.serum ferritin(2229.95ng/ml) and serum triglycerides(286mg/dl) were markedly increased.
In view of history, examination and laboratory parameters ,a diagnosis of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (macrophage activation syndrome) secondary to typhoid fever was entertained.
Patient received ceftriaxone 1gm IV BD for 10 days. Patient became afebrile on 4th day after receiving treatment. Serial blood counts revealed a rising trend till they became normal before the end of second week.
Discussion
Hemophagocytic syndrome is of two types (a) Primary HLH with no obvious precipitating cause (b) Secondary HLH (acquired HLH) which occurs after strong immune activation as in systemic infection (virus, bacteria, and protozoa), autoimmune disorders, or underlying malignancy1,2. In hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis there is overwhelming activation of normal T cells and macrophages. The clinical entity has to be suspected when patient presents with fever unresponsive to antibiotics, general fatigue, falling ESR, cytopenia of unknown origin and liver dysfunction with elevated ferritin. The diagnostic criteria proposed by Histiocyte Society for inclusion in the International Registry for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is as follows10.
(1) Fever - Seven or more days of a temperature as high as 38.5°C (101.3°F).
(2) Splenomegaly
(3) Cytopenia - Counts below the specified range in at least 2 of the following cell lineages:
- Absolute neutrophils less than 1000/mL;
- Platelets less than 100,000/mL;
- Hemoglobin less than 9.0 g/dL
(4) Hypofibrinogenemia or hypertriglyceridemia
(5) Hemophagocytosis
(6) Rash
At least five criteria need to be present to have a definite diagnosis. For confirmation tissue diagnosis is needed. Hemophagocytosis must be demonstrated in the bone marrow, spleen, or lymph nodes. Macrophage activation syndrome should be considered in patients with a SIRS like clinical presentation. Hyperferritinaemia >10000 ?g/l seems to be a good marker for defining patients with or at risk of developing MAS (and should be completed with a morphological assessment of hemophagocytosis) as well as an indicator for emergency administration of IVIG. But low ferritin does not rule out the condition as it may possibly reflect ferritin measurements some time after the peak of macrophage activation. This may be the reason for the relatively less elevated ferritin in our patient.
In the absence of prospective controlled trials, corticosteroids, cyclosporin A, and etoposide have been used with varied success. Recent reports show promising results with an anti-TNF-? and plasmapheresis.10
References
1.Pradalier A, Teillet F, Molitor JL, Drappier JC. Macrophage activation syndrome, hemophagocytic syndrome. Pathol Biol (Paris) 2004; 52: 407-14.
2.Fain O, Stirnemann J. Macrophage activation syndrome. Rev Prat 2004; 54: 935-9.
3.Muta T, Yamano Y. Fulminant hemophagocytic syndrome with a high interferon gamma level diagnosed as macrophage activation syndrome. Int J Hematol 2004; 79: 484-7.
4.Fame TM, Engelhard D, Riley HD Jr.Hemophagocytosis accompanying typhoid fever.Pediatr Infect Dis 1986;5:367-9.
5.Mallouh A, Saadi A. Hemophagocytosis withtyphoid fever. Ped Infect Dis 1986;5:720.
6.Ramanathan M, Karim N. Haemophagocytosis intyphoid fever. Med J Malaysia 1993;48:240-3.
7.Udden MM, Banez E, Sears DA. Bone marrowhistiocytic hyperplasia and hemophagocytosis With pancytopenia in typhoid fever. Am J Med Sci1986;291:396-400.
8.Uzuner N, Arici A, Yilmaz E, Oren H, Kavukcu S.Typhoid fever with sever pancytopenia. Gazi Med J2002;13:191-3.
9.Janka G, Imashuku S, Elinder G, Schneider M, Henter JI. Infection- and malignancy- Associated hemophagocytic syndromes. Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.
Hematol OncolClin North Am 1998;/12:/435-/444.
10. HLH-94: a treatment protocol for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. HLH study Group of The Histiocyte Society. - Henter JI - Med Pediatr Oncol 01-MAY-1997; 28(5): 342-7
Source(s) of Funding
None
Competing Interests
None
Disclaimer
This article has been downloaded from WebmedCentral. With our unique author driven post publication peer
review, contents posted on this web portal do not undergo any prepublication peer or editorial review. It is
completely the responsibility of the authors to ensure not only scientific and ethical standards of the manuscript
but also its grammatical accuracy. Authors must ensure that they obtain all the necessary permissions before
submitting any information that requires obtaining a consent or approval from a third party. Authors should also
ensure not to submit any information which they do not have the copyright of or of which they have transferred
the copyrights to a third party.
Contents on WebmedCentral are purely for biomedical researchers and scientists. They are not meant to cater to
the needs of an individual patient. The web portal or any content(s) therein is neither designed to support, nor
replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her physician. Your use of the
WebmedCentral site and its contents is entirely at your own risk. We do not take any responsibility for any harm
that you may suffer or inflict on a third person by following the contents of this website.