Cytomorphologic Features Found in Cerebrospinal Fluid Specimens of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Patients

Autoimmune encephalitis followed by hemophagocytic lymph histiocytosis: a case report

Objective

This study aims to report three cases of autoimmune encephalitis followed by hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Methods

Data of relevant patients treated between 2019 and 2022 were retrospectively collected from the Department of Neurology at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University.

Results

The age at onset of the three patients was 37, 63, and 36 years, respectively. All three patients were female and presented with cognitive dysfunction and seizures. Behavioral and psychological symptoms were also observed in two cases. All patients were positive for autoantibodies in both the cerebrospinal fluid and serum, while two showed multiple abnormal brain signals on magnetic resonance imaging. All patients exhibited hypocytosis and elevated soluble CD25 and serum ferritin levels. The final diagnoses in two cases were lymphomas, while the remaining case without tumors suffered from a severe infection. All patients received immunotherapy, and the two with lymphoma received anti-tumor treatment. The patient with infection died, and two patients with tumors improved after chemotherapy.

Conclusion

Autoimmune encephalitis followed by hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare and severe condition. Prompt attention should be paid to the decline in blood cell counts, particularly in patients who show a slight improvement after immunotherapy or have a risk of lymphoma. Screening for potential tumors and infections and early treatment may help these patients.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant for familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a case report and literature review

Objectives

This study aims to discuss the clinical manifestations and treatment of Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (FHL) caused by a mutation in the UNC13D gene.

Methods

A 6-year-old female child presented with unexplained febricity, splenomegaly, pancytopenia, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in bone marrow, decreased NK cell activity, soluble CD25 levels > 44000ng/ml. Genetic sequencing revealed a mutation in the UNC13D gene. Additionally, the patient experienced intermittent fever with seizures characterized by involuntary twitching of the left upper limb. Head magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed white matter lesions.

Results

According to the HLH-2004 diagnostic criteria revised by the International Society of Histiocytosis the patient was diagnosed with FHL. Despite receiving HLH-2004 treatment, the disease relapsed. However, after a salvage allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT), febricity, abnormal blood cells, and neurological symptoms significantly improved.

Conclusions

Prompt performance of allogeneic HSCT is crucial upon diagnosis of FHL, especially when neurological involvement is present.

Diagnosis and investigation of suspected haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in adults: 2023 Hyperinflammation and HLH Across Speciality Collaboration (HiHASC) consensus guideline

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a hyperinflammatory syndrome characterised by persistently activated cytotoxic lymphocytes and macrophages, which, if untreated, leads to multiorgan dysfunction and death. HLH should be considered in any acutely unwell patient not responding to treatment as expected, with prompt assessment to look for what we term the three Fs-fever, falling blood counts, and raised ferritin. Worldwide, awareness of HLH and access to expert management remain inequitable. Terminology is not standardised, classification criteria are validated in specific patient groups only, and some guidelines rely on specialised and somewhat inaccessible tests. The consensus guideline described in this Health Policy was produced by a self-nominated working group from the UK network Hyperinflammation and HLH Across Speciality Collaboration (HiHASC), a multidisciplinary group of clinicians experienced in managing people with HLH. Combining literature review and experience gained from looking after patients with HLH, it provides a practical, structured approach for all health-care teams managing adult (>16 years) patients with possible HLH. The focus is on early recognition and diagnosis of HLH and parallel identification of the underlying cause. To ensure wide applicability, the use of inexpensive, readily available tests is prioritised, but the role of specialist investigations and their interpretation is also addressed.

[Systemic lupus erythematosus associated macrophage activation syndrome with neuropsychiatric symptoms: A report of 2 cases]

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is clinically severe, with a high mortality rate and rare neuropsychiatric symptoms. In the course of diagnosis and treatment, it is necessary to actively determine whether the neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients are caused by neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) or macrophage activation syndrome. This paper retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 2 cases of SLE associated MAS with neuropsychiatric lesions, Case 1: A 30-year-old female had obvious alopecia in 2019, accompanied by emaciation, fatigue and dry mouth. In March 2021, she felt weak legs and fell down, followed by fever and chills without obvious causes. After completing relevant examinations, she was diagnosed with SLE and given symptomatic treatments such as hormones and anti-infection, but the patient still had fever. The relevant examinations showed moderate anemia, elevated ferritin, elevated triglycerides, decreased NK cell activity, and a perforin positivity rate of 4.27%, which led to the diagnosis of "pre-hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS)". In May 2021, the patient showed mental trance and babble, and was diagnosed with "SLE-associated MAS"after completing relevant examinations. After treatment with methylprednisolone, anti-infection and psychotropic drugs, the patient's temperature was normal and mental symptoms improved. Case 2: A 30-year-old female patient developed butterfly erythema on both sides of the nose on her face and several erythema on her neck in June 2019, accompanied by alopecia, oral ulcers, and fever. She was diagnosed with "SLE" after completing relevant examinations, and her condition was relieved after treatment with methylprednisolone and human immunoglobulin. In October 2019, the patient showed apathy, no lethargy, and fever again, accompanied by dizziness and vomiting. The relevant examination indicated moderate anemia, decreased NK cell activity, elevated triglycerides, and elevated ferritin. The patient was considered to be diagnosed with "SLE, NPSLE, and SLE-associated MAS". After treatment with hormones, human immunoglobulin, anti-infection, rituximab (Mabthera), the patient's condition improved and was discharged from the hospital. After discharge, the patient regularly took methylprednisolone tablets (Medrol), and her psychiatric symptoms were still intermittent. In November 2019, she developed symptoms of fever, mania, and delirium, and later turned to an apathetic state, and was given methylprednisolone intravenous drip and olanzapine tablets (Zyprexa) orally. After the mental symptoms improved, she was treated with rituximab (Mabthera). Later, due to repeated infections, she was replaced with Belizumab (Benlysta), and she was recovered from her psychiatric anomalies in March 2021. Through the analysis of clinical symptoms, imaging examination, laboratory examination, treatment course and effect, it is speculated that the neuropsychiatric symptoms of case 1 are more likely to be caused by MAS, and that of case 2 is more likely to be caused by SLE. At present, there is no direct laboratory basis for the identification of the two neuropsychiatric symptoms. The etiology of neuropsychiatric symptoms can be determined by clinical manifestations, imaging manifestations, cerebrospinal fluid detection, and the patient's response to treatment. Early diagnosis is of great significance for guiding clinical treatment, monitoring the condition and judging the prognosis. The good prognosis of the two cases in this paper is closely related to the early diagnosis, treatment and intervention of the disease.

Clinical significance of cerebrospinal fluid soluble CD25 in pediatric hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis with central nervous system involvement

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the clinical significance of soluble CD25 (sCD25) levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in pediatric hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) with central nervous system (CNS) involvement.

METHODS

All patients diagnosed with HLH admitted to Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University between January 1, 2017 and October 31, 2021 who received a measurement of their HLH-related parameters and CSF sCD25 levels at admission were enrolled in this study.

RESULTS

CSF sCD25 levels in patients with primary HLH were higher than those in patients with Epstein-Barr virus infection-associated HLH, and the median level was 444 pg/ml. The difference in CSF sCD25 levels between the non-CNS group and the CNS group was statistically significant (591 [259-33,643] pg/ml vs. 123 (36-437) pg/ml, p < .001). The best cutoff value of CSF sCD25 was 273.5 pg/ml (AUC = 0.987, 95% CI: 0.972-1.000), with sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values of 96.4%, 92.8%, 81.8%, and 98.7%, respectively. CSF sCD25 in the severe CNS involvement group was significantly higher than that in the nonsevere CNS involvement group (p = .014). The 3-year overall survival (OS) of patients with high CSF sCD25 levels was lower than that of patients with low CSF sCD25 levels(71.6% ± 8.1% vs. 93.3% ± 2.9%, hazard ratio [HR] = 3.637, p = .003).

CONCLUSION

Increased CSF sCD25 levels in active disease can predict CNS-HLH. Primary HLH has a higher CSF sCD25 level than Epstein-Barr virus infection-associated HLH. Patients who are diagnosed with CNS-HLH with CSF sCD25 levels higher than 273.5 pg/ml are more likely to develop severe CNS involvement, suggesting a poor prognosis.