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Microscopy-based Assays for High-throughput Screening of Host Factors Involved in Brucella Infection of Hela Cells
Published on: August 5, 2016
Brucellosis presenting with pancytopenia due to hemophagocytic syndrome
Ela Erdem1, Yıldız Yıldırmak, Nurşen Günaydın
1Department of Pediatrics, Şişli Etfal Education and Research Hospital, İstanbul, Turkey, Phone: +90 216 553 73 05
Reactive hemophagocytic syndrome is clinically characterized by fever, hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia, and coagulopathy, and is histologically characterized by excessive proliferation and activation of histiocytes or macrophages. It can occur with systemic infections, immunodeficiency, or underlying malignancy. Brucellosis is one of the rare causes of hemophagocytosis. Herein we report an 11-year-old male with pancytopenia due to hemophagocytosis during the course of brucellosis that responded favorably to therapy. Although rare, hemophagocytosis should be considered as a possible cause of pancytopenia in patients with brucellosis, especially in regions where brucellosis is frequently encountered.
Reactive hemophagocytic syndrome is clinically characterized by fever, hepatosplenomegaly, pancytopenia, and coagulopathy, and is histologically characterized by excessive proliferation and activation of histiocytes or macrophages. It can occur with systemic infections, immunodeficiency, or underlying malignancy. Brucellosis is one of the rare causes of hemophagocytosis. Herein we report an 11-year-old male with pancytopenia due to hemophagocytosis during the course of brucellosis that responded favorably to therapy. Although rare, hemophagocytosis should be considered as a possible cause of pancytopenia in patients with brucellosis, especially in regions where brucellosis is frequently encountered.

