Kawasaki disease preceding haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: challenges for developing world practitioners.
Kawasaki disease (KD) is a recognised precipitant of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Although KD has been previously described in the developing world, there are no reported cases of KD preceding HLH. We report a case of a child with a persistent rash and unremitting fever consistent with the diagnosis of KD, who was found to have HLH, after intravenous gamma globulin failed to produce a clinical response. The diagnosis was made using the revised diagnostic criteria for HLH from the Histiocyte Society (1994). She fulfilled six of the eight clinical and laboratory criteria needed to make the diagnosis.
Paediatric Haematology Oncology Service, Department of Paediatric Medicine, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, School of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa. marc.hendricks@uct.ac.za
Marc
M
Hendricks
Shakti
S
Pillay
Alan
A
Davidson
Rik
R
De Decker
John
J
Lawrenson
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003906:Developing Countries; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051359:Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005719:gamma-Globulins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D005719:gamma-Globulins; D002443:Ceftriaxone; D003907:Dexamethasone