Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis after trauma

Abstract

A 6-year-old female patient who had an out-of-car traffic accident, head trauma, increased fever during follow-up, splenomegaly and widespread maculopapular rashes in the whole body was evaluated as secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) according to laboratory findings of anemia, neutropenia, hyperferritinemia, hypertriglyceridemia and hypofibrinogenemia. Clinical improvement was achieved with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and steroid treatments. Interleukin 1 (IL-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and high concentration of cytokines originating from central nervous system after traumatic brain injury suggest that cytokines play an important role in this post-traumatic pathological process. This case is presented because it is the first pediatric patient who developed HLH after trauma.