[Cases of hemophagocytic syndrome in Tenri Hospital].
The author reviewed clinical and laboratory findings included white blood cells(WBC), C-reactive protein(CRP) in cases of hemophagocytic syndrome(HPS).


METHODS
Eleven cases of HPS treated in Tenri hospital between 1985 and 1999 were studied. HPS was diagnosed by clinical and laboratory findings. There were 6 children(9 months-5 years-old, male 2: female 4) and 5 adults(31-74 years-old, all: female).


CONCLUSIONS
Etiology of HPS was viral infection in 8 cases and autoimmune diseases, drug allergy, malignant lymphoma in the other 3 cases. Clinical and laboratory findings that indicated poor prognosis were hepatosplenomegaly complicated with lymphadenopathy, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, increase of alpha 1-globulin and hyperbilirubinemia. The number of WBC ranged between 500 and 4300/microliter. WBC was decreased in 9 cases and there were cases demonstrating relative lymphopenia or neutropenia. However, CRP increased in all cases (0.2-30.7 mg/dl), although in 8 cases, the CRP values were less than 4 mg/dl. There was no relation between the number of WBC and CRP values and neither of these items showed any relation to hepatosplenomegaly or values of lactate dehydrogenase and ferritin. We should prepare histological sections along with smears from bone marrow examination to increase the sensitivity of diagnosing HPS. We should also note that even if there is no increase in hemophagocytes, we can not deny HPS.


CONCLUSIONS
Cytopenia and increases of CRP, alpha 1-globulin, lactate dehydrogenase and ferritin were common findings in HPS, but there was no relation among these findings and there were large differences in these findings in each case.
Matsuo
S
S
Department of Clinical Pathology, Tenri Hospital.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000510:Alpha-Globulins / Q000032:analysis; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000150:complications; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D015616:Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007564:Japan; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications
D000510:Alpha-Globulins; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein