Reactive hemophagocytic syndrome in a case of systemic lupus erythematosus that was diagnosed by detection of hemophagocytosing macrophages in peripheral blood smears.
A 38-year-old woman with pancytopenia and liver dysfunction was diagnosed with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). On days 9 and 10 of admission, peripheral blood smears showed macrophages phagocytosing platelets, and reactive hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) was diagnosed. Hemophagocytic syndrome was successfully treated with high-dose prednisolone therapy and one course of methylprednisolone pulse therapy. Detection of hemophagocytosing macrophages in peripheral blood smears would be a useful and noninvasive method of diagnosing SLE-associated HPS.
Hagiwara
Kiyofumi
K
Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Japanese Red Cross Medical Center, 4-1-22 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 150-8935, Japan. hagiwarak-tky@umin.ac.jp
Sawanobori
Masakazu
M
Nakagawa
Yasunori
Y
Sato
Takeo
T
Akiyama
Osamu
O
Takemura
Tamiko
T
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000379:methods; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D051359:Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology