Abstract
The aim of this prospective observational study was to evaluate the incidence of hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Between July 2006 and December 2007, all patients who received a HSCT in our institution were included in this study. All the following criteria were needed for the diagnosis of HPS: sustained fever over 7 days; cytopenia (neutropenia and/or thrombocytopenia); presence of more than 3% mature macrophages in bone marrow; hyperferritinaemia (>1,000 ng/mL). During this study, 171 patients received a HSCT (68 allogeneic and 103 autologous). The median age was 32 years (3–62). We observed six cases of HPS (6/68; 8.8%) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (ASCT): one case of EBV-related HPS, two cases of CMV-related HPS, and three cases with no evidence of bacterial, fungal or viral infections. We observed only one case of CMV-related HPS (1/103; 0.9%) after autologous stem cell transplantation. Four patients died despite aggressive supportive care. To our knowledge, this is the first prospective observational study conducted with the aim to evaluate the incidence of HPS after HSCT. This study provides a relatively high incidence of HPS after ASCT. When sustained fever with progressive cytopenia and hyperferritinaemia are observed, HPS should be suspected, and bone marrow aspirate considered. The rapid diagnosis of HPS and the early initiation of an appropriate treatment are essential for patient management.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Henter JI, Elinder G, Ost A. Diagnostic guidelines for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. The FHL Study Group of the Histiocyte Society. Semin Oncol. 1991;18:29–33.
Larroche C, Mouthon L. Pathogenesis of hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS). Autoimmun Rev. 2004;3:69–75. doi:10.1016/S1568-9972(03)00091-0.
Stepp SE, Dufourcq-Lagelouse R, Le Deist R, et al. Perforin gene defects in familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Science. 1999;286:1957–9. doi:10.1126/science.286.5446.1957.
Janka G, Imashuku S, Elinder G, et al. Infection and malignancy-associated hemophagocytic syndromes. Secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 1998;12:435–44. doi:10.1016/S0889-8588(05)70521-9.
Imashuku S. Differential diagnosis of hemophagocytic syndrome, underlying disorders and selection of the most effective treatment. Int J Hematol. 1997;66:135–51. doi:10.1016/S0925-5710(97)00584-7.
Marr KA, Seidel K, Slavin MA, et al. Prolonged fluconazole prophylaxis is associated with persistent protection against candidiasis-related death in allogeneic marrow transplant recipients: long-term follow-up, of a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Blood. 2000;96:2055–61.
Sato M, Matsushima T, Takada S, et al. Fulminant CMV-associated, haemophagocytic syndrome following unrelated bone marrow transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant. 1998;22:1219–22. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1701501.
Ishikawa J, Maeda T, Miyazaki T, et al. Early onset of hemophagocytic syndrome following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Int J Hematol. 2000;72:243–6.
Abe Y, Choi I, Hara K, et al. Hemophagocytic syndrome: a rare complication of allogeneic nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2002;29:799–801. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1703554.
Iyama S, Matsunaga T, Fujimi A, et al. Successful treatment with oral ribavirin of adenovirus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome in a stem cell transplantation recipient. Rinsho Ketsueki. 2005;46:363–7.
Abdelkefi A, Ben Othman T, Torjman L, et al. Plasmodium falciparum causing hemophagocytic syndrome after allogeneic blood stem cell transplantation. Hematol J. 2004;5:449–50. doi:10.1038/sj.thj.6200531.
Reardon DA, Roskos R, Hanson Ca, et al. Virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome following bone marrow transplantation. Am J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 1991;13:305–9. doi:10.1097/00043426-199123000-00010.
Tsuda H. Hemophagocytic syndrome in children and adults. Int J Hematol. 1997;65:215–26. doi:10.1016/S0925-5710(96)00560-9.
Henter JI, Horne A, Aricó M, et al. HLH-2004: diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2007;48:124–31. doi:10.1002/pbc.21039.
Spitzer TS. Engraftment syndrome following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2001;27:893–8. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1703015.
Tanaka T, Matsubara H, Adachi S, Chang H, Fujino H, Higashi Y, et al. Second transplantation from HLA 2-locimismatched mother for graft failure due to hemophagocytic syndrome after cord blood transplantation. Int J Hematol. 2004;80:467–9. doi:10.1532/IJH97.04063.
Sreedharan A, Bowyer S, Wallace CA, et al. Macrophage activation syndrome and other systemic inflammatory conditions after BMT. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2006;37:629–34. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1705305.
Allen CE, Yu X, Kozinetz CA, MuClain KL. Highly elevated ferritin levels and the diagnosis of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2008;50:1227–35. doi:10.1002/pbc.21423.
Esumi N, Ikushima S, Hibi S, Todo S, Imashuku S. High serum ferritin level as a marker of malignant histiocytosis and virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome. Cancer. 1988;61:2071–6. doi:10.1002/1097-0142(19880515)61:10<2071::AID-CNCR2820611023>3.0.CO;2-6.
Emmenegger U, Reimers A, Frey U, et al. Reactive macrophage activation syndrome: a simple screening strategy and its potential in early treatment initiation. Swiss Med Wkly. 2002;132:230–6.
Schaer DJ, Schleiffenbaum B, Kurrer M, et al. Soluble hemoglobin-haptoglobin scavenger receptor CD163 as a lineage-specific marker in the reactive hemophagocytic syndrome. Eur J Haematol. 2005;74:6–10. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0609.2004.00318.x.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
About this article
Cite this article
Abdelkefi, A., Jamil, W.B., Torjman, L. et al. Hemophagocytic syndrome after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a prospective observational study. Int J Hematol 89, 368–373 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-009-0261-1
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12185-009-0261-1