Severe TAFRO Syndrome Mimicking Hepatorenal Syndrome Successfully Treated with a Multidisciplinary Approach: A Case Report and Literature Review

Intern Med. 2023 Sep 15;62(18):2715-2724. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.1178-22. Epub 2023 Feb 1.

Abstract

Finding the ideal balance between efficacy and safety of immunosuppression is challenging, particularly in cases of severe TAFRO syndrome. We herein report a 60-year-old man diagnosed with grade 5 TAFRO syndrome mimicking hepatorenal syndrome that was successfully treated by glucocorticoid, tocilizumab, and cyclosporin despite virus infection. Furthermore, by examining 14 peer-reviewed remission cases, we revealed that the recovery periods among inflammation, renal dysfunction, and thrombocytopenia were quite different, with recovery from thrombocytopenia notably slow. All patients requiring dialysis were successfully withdrawn from dialysis, and the reversibility from kidney injury was good. This clinical information will help clinicians plan treatments and tailor the intensity of immunosuppression.

Keywords: TAFRO syndrome; dialysis; immunosuppression; kidney injury; thrombocytopenia.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Castleman Disease* / drug therapy
  • Edema / drug therapy
  • Hepatorenal Syndrome* / diagnosis
  • Hepatorenal Syndrome* / therapy
  • Humans
  • Kidney
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Thrombocytopenia* / diagnosis
  • Thrombocytopenia* / drug therapy

Supplementary concepts

  • Multi-centric Castleman's Disease