Spontaneous healing of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (histiocytosis X).
A 3-month-old male infant presented with pallor, hepatomegaly (4.5 cm), splenomegaly (1.5 cm), anaemia (Hb 6 g/dl) and thrombocytopenia (16 X 10(9)/l). A liver biopsy was diagnostic for Langerhans cell histiocytosis (histiocytosis X). The patient's lymphocytes, co-cultured with neonatal lymphocytes, were positive for virus-like particles without reverse transcriptase activity. The hepatomegaly diminished after 6 months and a second liver biopsy showed decreased histiocytic infiltration. A second viral blood culture remained negative. After 14 months, the hepatomegaly had disappeared completely and there were no more abnormal haematological or clinical findings.
Corbeel
L
L
Department of Paediatrics, University of Leuven, Belgium.
Eggermont
E
E
Desmyter
J
J
Surmont
I
I
De Vos
R
R
De Wolf-Peeters
C
C
Cobbaert
C
C
Eykens
A
A
D006644:Histiocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008099:Liver / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase / Q000097:blood; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous
D007862:Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase