TITLE:
A case of hemophagocytic syndrome as a complication of Plasmodium vivax malaria
AUTHORS:
Ananya Mukharjee, Chintan Sagar, Sahil Fulara, Uday Patil, Monika Jawanjal
KEYWORDS:
Hemophagocytic Syndrome; Plasmodium vivax Malaria
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Clinical Diagnostics,
Vol.3 No.4,
November
29,
2013
ABSTRACT: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis syndrome (HPS) is a potentially fatal hyperinflammatory response characterized by a generalized histiocytic proliferation with marked hemophagocytosis in bone marrow [1]. Hemophagocytic syndrome has been associated with genetic mutations, autoimmune diseases, hematological malignancies or infections [2,3]. According to the data from Centre for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) Plasmodium falciparum has been associated with HPS but not the Plasmodium vivax [4-7]. We report a case of hemophagocytic syndrome as a complication of Plasmodium vivax malaria which is a rare presentation according to the data. This patient presented with high grade fever with chills (P. vivax positive), fever however did not respond to anti-malarials. The patient continued to have high grade fever with altered sensorium and deranged liver function with pancytopenia. Since she fulfilled the criteria of (HPS), patient was put on injectable steroids and responded dramatically. Hemophagocytic syndrome is a potentially fatal syndrome and therefore high index suspicion and early treatment is the key to reduce the mortatlity.