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memo - Magazine of European Medical Oncology
Published in: memo - Magazine of European Medical Oncology 3/2021

01-09-2021 | Epstein-Barr Virus | case report

Death of unknown cause? Post-mortem diagnosis of fulminant course of an EBV-associated secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Authors: Josia Fauser, Stefan Köck, Eberhard Gunsilius, Andreas Chott, Andreas Peer, Adelheid Ditlbacher, Gernot Fritsche, Michael Joannidis, Dominik Wolf, Andreas Pircher, M.D., Ph.D.

Published in: memo - Magazine of European Medical Oncology | Issue 3/2021

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Summary

HLH is a life-threatening disease, which is characterized by a dysregulated immune response with uncontrolled T cell and macrophage activation. The often fulminant course of the disease needs a fast diagnostic work-up to initiate as soon as possible the appropriate therapy. We present herein the case of a 71-year-old patient with rapidly progressive hyperinflammatory syndrome, which post mortem resulted in the diagnosis of EBV-associated HLH. With this case report, we intend to highlight the relevance of the HScore in the diagnosis of HLH, to create a greater awareness for EBV as a trigger of HLH, and to demonstrate the importance of treating EBV-associated HLH as early as possible.
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Metadata
Title
Death of unknown cause? Post-mortem diagnosis of fulminant course of an EBV-associated secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
Authors
Josia Fauser
Stefan Köck
Eberhard Gunsilius
Andreas Chott
Andreas Peer
Adelheid Ditlbacher
Gernot Fritsche
Michael Joannidis
Dominik Wolf
Andreas Pircher, M.D., Ph.D.
Publication date
01-09-2021
Publisher
Springer Vienna
Published in
memo - Magazine of European Medical Oncology / Issue 3/2021
Print ISSN: 1865-5041
Electronic ISSN: 1865-5076
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12254-021-00701-9

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