Haemophagocytosis in early congenital syphilis.
A previously healthy male infant developed hepatosplenomegaly, severe anaemia and thrombocytopenia 5 weeks after birth. Marked haemophagocytosis was present in the bone marrow. A typical maculopapular rash suggested early congenital syphilis. The diagnosis was confirmed by serology and by the presence of untreated syphilis in both parents.


CONCLUSIONS
Syphilis needs to be excluded in infants suspected of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.
University Children's Hospital, Freiburg, Germany.
M
M
Pohl
C M
CM
Niemeyer
R
R
Hentschel
U
U
Duffner
E
E
Bergsträsser
M
M
Brandis
D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015616:Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D010400:Penicillin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010587:Phagocytosis; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D013588:Syphilis Serodiagnosis; D013590:Syphilis, Congenital / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D010400:Penicillin G