Haemophagocytic syndrome with disseminated intravascular coagulation associated with tuberculosis

• Published in: BMJ case reports Vol. 2013; p. bcr2013008743
• Main Authors: Cherif, Eya, Bel Feki, Nabil, Ben Hassine, Lamia, Khalfallah, Narjess
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01-03-2013; BMJ Publishing Group
• Series: Case Report
• Subjects: Abdomen; Adolescent; Africa; Antitubercular Agents - therapeutic use; Black; Blood; Bone marrow; Diagnosis, Differential; Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation - diagnosis; Female; Fever; Humans; Infections; Intensive care; Lungs; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic - diagnosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Tuberculin Test; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis - diagnosis; Tuberculosis - drug therapy; Unusual Association of Diseases/Symptoms
• ISSN: 1757-790X; 1757-790X
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2013-008743

Haemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is a clinical entity that combines non-specific clinical and biological features. The diagnosis is usually confirmed by a bone marrow examination. HPS may be primary or secondary to a malignancy or to an infectious or autoimmune disease. Early aggressive survey of the aetiology and optimal treatment of the underlying disease improve the outcome of life-threatening HPS. Infection-associated HPS occurs predominantly in immunocompromised patients and is usually fatal. Leading trigger agents are viruses, especially the Epstein-Barr virus  and cytomegalovirus. Mycobacterial infections associated with HPS are rare but should be considered in those patients where there is associated fever of unknown origin. We present a case of disseminated tuberculosis-associated HPS.