Clinical Features of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma-Associated Hemophagocytic Syndrome: a Retrospective Study

This study aims to improve the understanding of lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome, and find effective methods to identify and manage this fatal disease.

Patients diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome from January 2008 to December 2022 in our center were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses were also conducted using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Among 26 patients, 22 patients were diagnosed with T/NK cell lymphoma, while 4 patients were diagnosed with diffuse large B cell lymphoma. A total of 16 patients died with a median follow-up of 71 (26, 236) days. Compared with B cell lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome patients, T/NK cell lymphoma patients are younger, have lower platelet count, fibrinogen concentration, and serum albumin, have higher blood β2-mi-croglobulin levels and ferritin, are more likely to be infected with Epstein-Barr virus, are more inclined have a simultaneously occurrence of lymphoma and hemophagocytic syndrome. In multivariate analysis, fibrinogen, albumin, cholinesterase, uric acid, triglyceride, and ferritin are significantly associated with overall mortality.

LAHS is a rare disease with poor prognosis. Early anti-inflammatory treatment combined with anti-lymphoma therapy can improve the overall survival time of patients. Prospective multi-center studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are needed to further investigate optimal treatment and prognosis.