Histiocytic hemophagocytosis in miliary tuberculosis

The signs, symptoms, and bone marrow findings of the recently described virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome was seen in a patient we treated. The manifestations of this syndrome may not be specific to viral infections and may possibly occur in other infectious processes. Autopsy findings in the present case showed it to be associated with disseminated miliary tuberculosis. Concomitant viral infection was excluded. To our knowledge, only one similar patient has previously been described.