Using a Minimal Parameter Set for Early Diagnosis of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in Non-European Children

Abstract

Case series

Patients: Male, 4-day-old • Male, 29-day-old

Final Diagnosis: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH)

Symptoms: Fever

Medication: —

Clinical Procedure: —

Specialty: Hematology • Immunology

Objective:

Challenging differential diagnosis

Background:

Children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis require rapid diagnosis for timely treatment. However, diagnostic delays may arise in settings with limited clinical resources. To address this issue, a simplified rule for diagnosing hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis has recently been proposed. We retrospectively applied this diagnostic rule in 2 infants to evaluate its generalizability to non-European children.

Case Reports:

We present 2 cases of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, involving an Asian neonate with secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis subsequent to echovirus infection and an African infant with familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis caused by PRF1 mutation. Limitations on time and clinical resources prevented tissue biopsy and measurement of natural killer cell activity in either case at our center. The Asian case did not meet HLH-2004 criteria, but both cases met a rapid diagnostic rule on admission to our center. Both cases were transported to a tertiary center and diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis based on HLH-2004 criteria. Although treatment suppressed disease activity, the Asian neonate died of multiple-organ failure at age 6 months. The African infant remains in remission after allogenic cord blood stem cell transplantation.

Conclusions:

A simplified diagnostic rule for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis may be useful for early diagnosis of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in Asian and African children, especially in resource-limited clinical settings. Further investigation is required to elucidate whether early diagnosis with a simplified diagnostic rule improves treatment outcomes for children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.