Hemophagocytic syndrome after living-donor liver transplantation for fulminant liver failure: a case report

Hepatogastroenterology. 2005 May-Jun;52(63):923-6.

Abstract

Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is a hypercytokinemia caused by activated T lymphocytes and macrophages in immunologically compromised patients. We report a 37-year-old female who was diagnosed with HPS after undergoing living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for fulminant liver failure of unknown etiology. After liver transplantation, recipients with pancytopenia should be tested for serum ferritin. When the serum ferritin is abnormal, the bone marrow should be biopsied to screen for HPS as soon as possible. If the condition is caught early and promptly treated, the outcome of this devastating condition might be improved. In addition, HPS should be ruled out in LDLT candidates with acute liver failure before their operations.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Ferritins / blood
  • Graft Rejection / diagnosis
  • Graft Rejection / pathology
  • Hepatectomy*
  • Humans
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Failure, Acute / surgery*
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Liver Transplantation*
  • Living Donors
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic / diagnosis*
  • Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic / immunology
  • Platelet Count
  • Postoperative Complications / diagnosis*
  • Postoperative Complications / immunology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2 / blood
  • Risk Factors
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Receptors, Interleukin-2
  • Ferritins