Open AccessHemophagocytic syndrome in classic dengue fever
Author(s) -
Sayantan Ray,
Supratip Kundu,
Manideepa Saha,
Prantar Chakrabarti
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of global infectious diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 0974-8245
pISSN - 0974-777X
DOI - 10.4103/0974-777x.91068
Subject(s) - hemophagocytosis , dengue fever , medicine , dengue virus , fever of unknown origin , hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis , rash , immunology , dermatology , bone marrow , pathology , disease , pancytopenia
A 24-year-old previously healthy girl presented with persistent fever, headache, and jaundice. Rapid-test anti-dengue virus IgM antibody was positive but anti-dengue IgG was nonreactive, which is suggestive of primary dengue infection. There was clinical deterioration during empiric antibiotic and symptomatic therapy. Bone marrow examination demonstrated the presence of hemophagocytosis. Diagnosis of dengue fever with virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome was made according to the diagnostic criteria of the HLH 2004 protocol of the Histiocyte Society. The patient recovered with corticosteroid therapy. A review of literature revealed only a handful of case reports that showed the evidence that this syndrome is caused by dengue virus. Our patient is an interesting case of hemophagocytic syndrome associated with classic dengue fever and contributes an additional case to the existing literature on this topic. This case highlights the need for increased awareness even in infections not typically associated with hemophagocytic syndrome.