Brucellosis presenting with pancytopenia due to hemophagocytic syndrome

Reactive hemophagocytic syndrome is clinically characterized by fever, hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia, and coagulopathy, and is histologically characterized by excessive proliferation and activation of histiocytes or macrophages. It can occur with systemic infections, immunodeficiency, or underlyi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Turkish Journal of Hematology
Main Authors: Ela Erdem, Yıldız Yıldırmak, Nurşen Günaydın
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Turkish Society of Hematology 2011-03-01
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Online Access:https://jag.journalagent.com/z4/download_fulltext.asp?pdir=tjh&un=TJH-03063
Description
Summary:Reactive hemophagocytic syndrome is clinically characterized by fever, hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia, and coagulopathy, and is histologically characterized by excessive proliferation and activation of histiocytes or macrophages. It can occur with systemic infections, immunodeficiency, or underlying malignancy. Brucellosis is one of the rare causes of hemophagocytosis. Herein we report an 11-year-old male with pancytopenia due to hemophagocytosis during the course of brucellosis that responded favorably to therapy. Although rare, hemophagocytosis should be considered as a possible cause of pancytopenia in patients with brucellosis, especially in regions where brucellosis is frequently encountered.
ISSN:1308-5263