Open AccessCOVID‐19‐associated secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis requiring hematopoietic cell transplant
Author(s) -
Greenmyer Jacob R.,
Wyatt Kirk D,
Milanovich Sam,
Kohorst Mira A.,
Ferdjallah Asmaa
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
ejhaem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2688-6146
DOI - 10.1002/jha2.456
Subject(s) - hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis , hematopoietic cell , covid-19 , hematopoietic stem cell transplantation , virology , medicine , haematopoiesis , biology , transplantation , pathology , stem cell , infectious disease (medical specialty) , disease , genetics , outbreak
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infection causes a variety of extrapulmonary complications in pediatric patients. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) are related to hypercytokinemia in COVID‐19 patients. HLH is a disorder of exaggerated inflammation resulting in a cytokine storm and unrestricted hemophagocytosis. HLH can be primary (familial) or secondary (acquired). Secondary HLH (sHLH) can occur in patients with rheumatologic, oncologic, or infectious diseases. The link between COVID‐19 and HLH has been reported in pediatric patients. Here we report a case of a pediatric patient who developed refractory sHLH secondary to COVID‐19 infection and required a hematopoietic cell transplant for the cure.