[Hemophagocytic syndrome secondary to cavitary pulmonary tuberculosis]

Hemophagocytic syndrome is due to the activation and nonmalignant proliferation of macrophages and T lymphocytes. The purpose of this report is to describe a 25-year-old man who presented with fever, coughing, and weight loss over the past month. Laboratory findings demonstrated pancytopenia, hyperferritinemia, and cytolysis. The myelogram showed a hemophagocytic syndrome, and tuberculosis bacilli were found in the sputum. Chest radiography and thoracic computed tomography depicted a cavitary lesion suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis. Treatment of tuberculosis alone, without an immunosuppressant agent, was effective and led to improvement. In a country where tuberculosis is highly endemic, hemophagocytic syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with active tuberculosis complicated by pancytopenia.