Secondary Hemophagocytic Syndrome in the Adult Patients. Literature Review and Authors’ Experience

RARE HEMATOLOGICAL TUMORS AND SYNDROMES , , , ,

VG Potapenko1,2, NA Potikhonova4, VV Baikov2, MB Belogurova1, IA Lisukov3, AV Klimovich1, SV Lapin2, MO Ivanova2, VM Kravtsova2, EI Podol’tseva1, NV Medvedeva1, BV Afanas’ev2

1 Municipal Clinical Hospital No. 31, 3 Dinamo pr-t, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, 197110

2 R.M. Gorbacheva Scientific Research Institute of Pediatric Hematology and Transplantation; Academician I.P. Pavlov First St. Petersburg State Medical University, 12 Rentgena str., Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, 197022

3 I.I. Mechnikov North-Western State Medical University, 41 Kirochnaya str., Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, 197022

4 Russian Scientific Research Institute of Hematology and Transfusiology under the Federal Medico-Biological Agency, 16 2-ya Sovetskaya str., Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, 191024

For correspondence: Vsevolod Gennad’evich Potapenko, Municipal Clinical Hospital No. 31, 3 Dinamo pr-t, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, 197110; Tel.: +7(812)230-19-33; e-mail: potapenko.vsevolod@mail.ru

For citation: Potapenko V.G., Potikhonova N.A., Baikov V.V., Belogurova M.B., Lisukov I.A., Klimovich A.V., Lapin S.V., Ivanova M.O., Kravtsova V.M., Podol’tseva E.I., Medvedeva N.V., Afanas’ev B.V. Secondary Hemophagocytic Syndrome in the Adult Patients. Literature Review and Authors’ Experience. Klin. Onkogematol. 2015;8(2):169–84. (In Russ.).

ABSTRACT

Background & Aims. The hemophagocytic syndrome is a dangerous hyperinflammatory syndrome usually caused by an infection. It is a result of excessive cell activation in the mononuclear phagocyte system which is manifested itself through cytopenia, systemic inflammatory reaction, liver and spleen impairment. Since the disease is rare and its diagnosing is very complicated, this syndrome has not been studied thoroughly and is overlooked very often. The aim of this work is to describe authors’ experience in dealing with the secondary hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) and to present a literature review.

Methods. Clinical and laboratory data of 15 patients aged 16 to 64 (median age 48 years) with secondary HPS observed over the period from 2009 till 2013 were analyzed. Secondary HPS was diagnosed in patients with malignant lymphoproliferative and infectious diseases. HPS signs were found in lymphoproliferative disorders (n = 5), chronic active EBV-infection (n = 3), allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (n = 3), acute leukemia (n = 1), multiple myeloma (n = 1), pneumonia (n = 1), and glomerulonephritis (n = 1). 8 patients underwent treatment for HPS: etoposide (n = 1), glucocorticoids (n = 1), intravenous immunoglobulin (n = 2), combination of rituximab + glucocorticoids (n = 2), etoposide + cyclosporine A (n = 1), as well as combined HLH-2004 chemotherapy (n = 1). The median observation period was 42 months.

Results. Among 15 adult patients enrolled into the retrospective analysis, malignant lymphoproliferative disorders and chronic EBV-infection were most common underlying disorders in case of secondary HPS. Early diagnosing is very complicated, because diagnostic criteria accepted at present are typical for the late-phase HPS. The above factors require development of more sensitive and universal diagnostic criteria.

Conclusion. In oncohematological practice, the secondary HPS is a severe complication requiring differential diagnosing with other critical conditions and intensive care. In case of HPS associated with oncohematological disorders, patients require close monitoring throughout the antitumor treatment period and after it.

Keywords: secondary hemophagocytic syndrome, lymphoma, Epstein-Barr virus, etoposide, hematopoietic stem cells transplantation.

Received: December 9, 2014

Accepted: February 7, 2015

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