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Published on: May 27, 2011
Familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and viral infections
J I Henter1, A Ehrnst, J Andersson
1Department of Pediatrics, Karolinska Institute, St Göran's/Karolinska Children's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
Insights
Viral infections can trigger hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in genetically susceptible children. Distinguishing familial HLH from virus-associated HLH requires more than just identifying a viral infection.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Hematology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunology
Background:
- Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, life-threatening hyperinflammatory syndrome.
- Understanding the triggers and subtypes of HLH is crucial for effective management.
Observation:
- A retrospective study analyzed 32 children with HLH, with 16 having affected siblings (familial HLH).
- Infections were present in 22 children (13 familial), with Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, and human parvovirus identified.
- Two siblings with familial HLH onset within a month showed evidence of recent human parvovirus infection.
Findings:
- Viral infections were common in both familial and potentially sporadic HLH cases.
- The presence of a viral infection alone is insufficient to differentiate virus-associated HLH from familial HLH.
Implications:
- Viral infections may act as a trigger for familial HLH in genetically predisposed individuals.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the complex interplay between genetic factors and viral triggers in HLH pathogenesis.
Abstract:
A retrospective study was performed in 32 children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, 16 of whom had affected siblings. Altogether 22 of these children, of whom the majority (13/22) were familial cases, had clinical or laboratory signs of infection. Laboratory analysis demonstrated Epstein-Barr virus in five children, cytomegalovirus in three and human parvovirus in two. Two siblings with onset of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis within one month of each other, both of whom demonstrated serological indications of a recent human parvoviral infection at onset, are described. It is concluded that a viral infection cannot serve as the sole criterion for distinguishing a virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome as an entity separate from familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Instead, it is suggested that viral infections may elicit a bout of the familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis disorder in genetically predisposed individuals.
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