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Background: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, life-threatening disorder caused by abnormal histiocytes and T cell activation. In adults, it is predominantly associated with infections, cancers, and autoimmune diseases. Relapsing polychondritis (RP), another rare disease, is diagnosed based on symptoms without specific tests, featuring cartilage inflammation characterized by swelling, redness, and pain, rarely inducing HLH.
Case Summary: A 74-year-old woman visited the emergency room with a fever of 38.6 °C. Blood tests, cultures, and imaging were performed to evaluate fever. Results showed increased fluorescent antinuclear antibody levels and mild cytopenia, with no other specific findings. Imaging revealed lymph node enlargement was observed; however, biopsy results were inconclusive. Upon re-evaluation of the physical exam, inflammatory signs suggestive of RP were observed in the ears and nose, prompting a tissue biopsy for confirmation. Simultaneously, persistent fever accompanied by cytopenia prompted a bone marrow examination, revealing hemophagocytic cells. After finding no significant results in blood culture, viral markers, and tissue examination of enlarged lymph nodes, HLH was diagnosed by RP. Treatment involved methylprednisolone followed by azathioprine. After two months, bone marrow examination confirmed resolution of hemophagocytosis, with normalization of hyperferritinemia and pancytopenia.
Conclusion: Thorough physical examination enabled diagnosis and treatment of HLH triggered by RP in patients presenting with fever of unknown origin.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.5312/wjo.v15.i8.813 | DOI Listing |
Am J Hematol
September 2025
Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Province Hospital, Nanjing, China.
Lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (LA-HLH) is a life-threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome, and hierarchical management based on a prognostic model is important. The endothelial activation and stress index (EASIX) score has demonstrated prognostic utility in recipients of allogeneic stem cell transplantation and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. However, its role in LA-HLH remains unestablished.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Immunol
September 2025
Department of Hematology, Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao, China.
Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis type 2 (FHL2), caused by perforin 1 (PRF 1), is a rare and fatal autosomal recessive disorder characterized by a hyperinflammatory syndrome and the accumulation of activated T lymphocytes and histiocytes in the reticuloendothelial system. Autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) is an autoimmune disease that typically presents in children with lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, and cytopenias or lymphomas. We report a case of a 9-year-old boy who was newly diagnosed with FHL, carrying a new type of compound heterozygous mutations (c.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Med Virol
September 2025
Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Systemic chronic active Epstein-Barr virus disease (sCAEBVD) can primarily involve skeletal muscle to form CAEBV-myopathy (CAEBV-M), which may resemble idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs). This study reports an 11-patient, 10-year cohort of CAEBV-M to summarize clinicoseropathologic features. CAEBV-M typically affects young adults (median: 29 years), with universal limb swelling, frequent disseminated muscle involvement (73%), and systemic symptoms like fever (82%), splenomegaly (82%), and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (55%).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Immunol
September 2025
Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Background: UNC13D deficiency is the most common form of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) in Asia. Hypogammaglobulinemia is a rare phenotype observed in both patients with FHL3 and sporadic hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Our observations suggest that UNC13D deficiency with hypogammaglobulinemia presents a distinct clinical phenotype compared to other HLH patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIndian J Nephrol
August 2024
Department of Nephrology, Government Stanley Medical College & Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
A syndrome of exaggerated lymphocytic proliferation and activation, called hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) can occur primarily due to genetic mutation, in children and secondary to infection, malignancy or autoimmunity in adults. It is characterized by a misdirected activation of immune system, which causes cytokine release from macrophages and cytotoxic cells, in an uncontrolled fashion. Most treatment protocols are formulated for primary hemophagocytic histiocytosis, which occurs in children, whereas awareness and therapeutic guidelines for the secondary form of the disease which affects predominantly the adults is limited.
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