Febrile Conundrum: A Case of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis

• Published in: The American journal of medicine Vol. 127; no. 12; pp. 1164 - 1166
• Main Authors: Schenone, Aldo, MD, Bandyopadhyay, Debabrata, MD, MRCP, Panchabhai, Tanmay S., MD, Mireles-Cabodevilla, Eduardo, MD, Duggal, Abhijit, MD, MPH, Krishnan, Sudhir, MD, MRCP
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-12-2014; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Subjects: Aged; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; Bone Marrow - pathology; Clinical outcomes; Critical care; Fever of Unknown Origin - etiology; Humans; Internal Medicine; Joint Diseases - complications; Joint Diseases - pathology; Knee Joint - pathology; Lymphocytes; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic - complications; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic - pathology; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse - complications; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse - pathology; Male; Medical diagnosis; Medical treatment; Recurrence
• ISSN: 0002-9343; 1555-7162
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2014.09.006

Diagnosing uncommon medical conditions that manifest with common clinical signs and symptoms can be an intellectually challenging exercise. Here, Schenone et al present the case of a 66-year-old Caucasian male with an 8-month history of intermittent recalcitrant fevers. The patient was admitted to the medical intensive care unit for worsening mental status, culminating in profound obtundation requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation for airway protection.