title: Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a patient with severe burns.
abstract: Recently, increasing attention has been drawn to haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis as a potentially under-diagnosed condition in critically ill patients with severe sepsis. It is thought to be caused by a highly stimulated, but ineffective, immune system. We report the case of a patient suffering from major burns who, despite extensive investigations showing the absence of concurrent sepsis or infection, developed haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis refractory to treatment. We believe that this is the first report suggestive of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis triggered by a burns injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia, Pain Medicine & Intensive Care, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK. johnporter@nhs.net
authors.forename: J R S
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Handy
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yarranton
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gurney
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002056:Burns / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051359:Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone