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Successful treatment of virus‐associated haemophagocytic syndrome in adults by cyclosporin A supported by granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor
Author(s) -
TSUDA HIROYUKI,
SHIRONO KENJI
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2141.1996.d01-1707.x
Subject(s) - granulocyte colony stimulating factor , medicine , immunology , granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor , granulocyte , cytokine , virus , tumor necrosis factor alpha , chemotherapy
Two young adult patients with typical virus‐associated haemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS) were treated with cyclosporin A and granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor (G‐CSF). Clinical symptoms such as high fever and malaise disappeared rapidly with concurrent haematological improvement in both patients. The serum levels of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), soluble IL‐2 receptor, tumour necrosis factor and macrophage‐CSF were all elevated before treatment but that of G‐CSF was not. The dramatic effect of cyclosporin A observed implies that it efficiently and rapidly suppresses the cytokine storm caused by dysregulated T cells in VAHS. In addition, G‐CSF may promote haematological recovery without syndrome regression. We believe that the combination of cyclosporin A and G‐CSF may be effective, at least in selected patients with VAHS. Further studies are required to confirm its role as first‐line therapy for adult patients with VAHS.