[Steroid and gamma globulin therapy against virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome]

Abstract

A 21-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of high fever, cough, and headache. Other clinical manifestations included hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, leukopenia, and mild liver dysfunction. As she had been diagnosed to have systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) previously, we first suspected that this disease had become exacerbated. However, the titers of anti-EB virus (VCA-IgG) and some other viruses were high on admission, and hemophagocytosis by macrophages was observed on bone marrow examination. Therefore, she was diagnosed to have virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS). Prednisolone therapy was then initiated, but the patient responded poorly. We next tried gamma globulin, and the clinical findings and laboratory data were improved. Our patient showed a very favourable clinical course following gamma globulin therapy, suggesting that steroid and gamma globulin should be considered as a treatment even in the early stages of this syndrome in adults.