title: Visceral leishmaniasis-associated hemophagocytosis: a single center experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kala-azar is a multisystem infection of the reticuloendothelial system. Various hematologic abnormalities have been described in kala-azar including hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS).
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed bone marrow aspirate smears from 18 documented cases of kala-azar complicated by HPS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The bone marrow smears were hypercellular with erythroid hyperplasia. Megaloblastic changes, foamy macrophages, activated macrophages with cytoplasmic vacuoles and elongated cytoplasmic process, intra- and extracellular amastigotes, cytoplasmic fragments (blue bodies), plasma cells with inclusions and hemophagocytic cells were seen. Leishman bodies (amastigotes) were also found in some hemophagocytic cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Kala-azar should be considered as an etiology of HPS, particularly in endemic areas.
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Maral_mokhtari@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Maral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mokhtari
authors.forename: Perikala Vijayananda
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D001856:Bone Marrow Examination; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D051359:Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male