title: Langerhans' cell histiocytosis and haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in an elderly patient.
abstract: We present a case of a 78-year-old man suffering from a chronic psoriasiform eruption, with rapid deterioration over the previous 8 weeks. Langerhans' cell histiocytosis with skin and bone involvement was diagnosed, and there was evidence of liver and lung dysfunction. The patient was treated with prednisolone and etoposide, and initially experienced a partial improvement. Three weeks later, haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and subsequently a large pulmonary abscess with sepsis attributed to opportunistic gram-negative enterobacteriaceae Serratia marcescens developed, and the patient died. The present case of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis is of particular interest because of the previously unreported development of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in the elderly population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Heraklion University General Hospital, Crete, Greece. derma@med.uoc.gr
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ioannidou
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Krasagakis
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Panayiotidis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stefanidou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alexandrakis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toscat
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D018450:Disease Progression; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006646:Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D015616:Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008169:Lung Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D016868:Serratia Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents