title: Hemophagocytic syndrome complicating cardiac transplantation.
abstract: Infection-associated hemophagocytic syndrome is one of the hemophagocytic disorders, and is most often seen in the pediatric population, typically in the setting of immunosuppression. We present the case of a 33-year-old man who had been well for more than 3 years following cardiac transplantation until he developed the infection-associated hemophagocytic syndrome. The patient had a fulminant downhill course, dying in shock 10 weeks after his first presentation. Serologic studies for Epstein-Barr virus suggested a remote infection; other viral and microbiologic studies were negative. The only previous report of infection-associated hemophagocytic syndrome complicating cardiac transplant appears to be that of a pediatric patient. The case presented illustrates the difficulties in antemortem diagnosis of this disorder, and in its treatment.
authors.affiliation: Anatomical Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of Ottawa Heart Institute and The Ottawa Civic Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.affiliation: Anatomical Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of Ottawa Heart Institute and The Ottawa Civic Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Walley
authors.affiliation: Cardiology, Department of Medicine, The University of Ottawa Heart Institute and The Ottawa Civic Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, The University of Ottawa Heart Institute and The Ottawa Civic Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Auclair
authors.affiliation: Clinical Hematology, Department of Medicine, The University of Ottawa Heart Institute and The Ottawa Civic Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bormanis