title: High serum ferritin level as a marker of malignant histiocytosis and virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome.
abstract: Serum ferritin level was measured serially in three malignant histiocytosis (MH) and five virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS) patients. Serum ferritin levels were greater than 1000 ng/ml at the early phase of disease. When disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) developed in patients, serum ferritin levels elevated further to greater than 12,000 ng/ml. MH patients were treated by combination chemotherapy, and VAHS patients were given prednisone. Each MH and VAHS patient died within 1 week from the onset of DIC, without decrease of serum ferritin level. One MH patient with continued high serum ferritin levels for 3 months after DIC also died. The remaining patients with decreased serum ferritin values less than 1000 ng/ml at 3 months after DIC are now alive with normal serum ferritin levels. These results suggest that serum ferritin level in histiocytic proliferative disorders is a useful indicator of disease activity in both neoplastic and reactive conditions rather than only a marker of malignant process.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Esumi
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ikushima
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Hibi
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Todo
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Imashuku
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004211:Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation / Q000209:etiology; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D054747:Histiocytic Sarcoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D003561:Cytarabine; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005293:Ferritins; D011241:Prednisone