A case of hemophagocytic syndrome complicated by acute viral hepatitis A infection

doi:2010.16.1.79

Korean J Hepatol > Volume 16(1); 2010 > Article

The Korean Journal of Hepatology 2010;16(1): 79-82.
doi: https://doi.org/10.3350/kjhep.2010.16.1.79

A case of hemophagocytic syndrome complicated by acute viral hepatitis A infection

Ji Young Seo, M.D., Dong Dae Seo, M.D., Tae Joo Jeon, M.D., Tae-Hoon Oh, M.D., Won Chang Shin, M.D., Won-Choong Choi, M.D., Soo Jin Yoo, M.D.1, Tae Hee Han, M.D.1

Department of Internal Medicine, 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Seoul, Korea

ABSTRACT

Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is a rare but serious condition that is histopathologically characterized by activation of macrophage or histiocytes with hemophagocytosis in bone marrow and reticuloendothelial systems. Clinically it presents with high fever, hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia, liver dysfunction, and hyperferritinemia. Hepatitis A virus is a very rare cause of secondary HPS. We report a case of a 22-year-old woman infected by hepatitis A virus who was consequently complicated with HPS. She presented typical clinical features of acute hepatitis A, and showed clinical and biochemical improvements. However, HPS developed as a complication of acute hepatitis A and the patient died of intraperitoneal bleeding caused by hepatic decompensation and disseminated intravascular coagulation. (Korean J Hepatol 2010;16:79-82)

KeyWords: Hepatitis A; Lymphohistiocytosis; Hemophagocytic