Infection-Associated Hemophagocytic Syndrome: a Rare Potentially Fatal Complication of Systemic Infection. Report of Three Cases

Abstract

Infection-associated hemophagocytic syndrome is a rare, potentially fatal complication of systemic infection. It occurs most often in immunocompromised patients associated with a viral infection but the spectrum of conditions have been broadened to include virtually every type of infectious pathogen, malignancy and immunosuppressive therapy (1,2). We present three pediatric patients with a similar clinical history of pancytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, and acute liver failure, and discuss the autopsy findings.