Defective UNC13D gene-associated familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis triggered by visceral leishmaniasis: a diagnostic challenge.

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol

*Department of Pediatric Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University †Department of Pediatric Hematology, Ankara Children's Hematology Oncology Hospital, Dişkapi, Ankara, Turkey.

Published: January 2014

Background: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) triggered genetic hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is clinically challenging.

Observations: One-year-old VL-HLH patient improved after liposomal-amphotericin-B therapy, but subsequently deteriorated, although bone marrow amastigotes disappeared. Symptoms resolved after 8 weeks of HLH-2004 therapy but recurred upon cessation. Homozygous UNC13D gene 627delT mutation was identified however stem cell donor was unavailable. The patient died at age 4 years after central nervous system attacks and HLH recurrences.

Conclusions: VL in HLH patients does not exclude a genetic etiology and requires structured clinical management. VL should be excluded in all HLH patients in endemic regions before immunochemotherapy, which is recommended for VL-HLH patients unresponsive to VL treatment and/or reactivated.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/MPH.0b013e31829b7f22DOI Listing

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