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Published on: May 7, 2012
Development of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in triplets infected with HHV-8
William J Grossman1, Mohammed Radhi, Dennis Schauer
1Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, Blood, and Marrow Transplant, Medical College of Wisconsin, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare disorder of immune dysregulation, characterized by end-organ damage from lymphocytic infiltration and macrophage activation. All known mutations associated with the HLH occur in genes critical in the perforin-granzyme pathway. Herein, we report HLH occurring in 2 female triplet infants who also had associated human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) infections. The subjects had identical novel compound-heterozygous mutations in the Perforin alleles, resulting in undetectable perforin expression and NK-cell cytotoxicity. Both infants also had evidence of infection with HHV-8. These reports are, to our knowledge, the first cases of HLH in triplets and the first reported cases of HHV-8 infection associated with HLH in non-renal transplant and non-HIV-infected subjects.
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare disorder of immune dysregulation, characterized by end-organ damage from lymphocytic infiltration and macrophage activation. All known mutations associated with the HLH occur in genes critical in the perforin-granzyme pathway. Herein, we report HLH occurring in 2 female triplet infants who also had associated human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) infections. The subjects had identical novel compound-heterozygous mutations in the Perforin alleles, resulting in undetectable perforin expression and NK-cell cytotoxicity. Both infants also had evidence of infection with HHV-8. These reports are, to our knowledge, the first cases of HLH in triplets and the first reported cases of HHV-8 infection associated with HLH in non-renal transplant and non-HIV-infected subjects.
