Published online June 19, 2006
PEDIATRICS Vol. 118 No. 1 July 2006, pp. e216-e219 (doi:10.1542/peds.2005-1861)
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Mou, S. S.
Right arrow Articles by Shetty, A. K.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Mou, S. S.
Right arrow Articles by Shetty, A. K.
Related Collections
Right arrow Infectious Disease & Immunity

EXPERIENCE AND REASON

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Complicating Influenza A Infection

Steven S. Mou, MDa,b, Thomas A. Nakagawa, MDa,b, Ellen C. Riemerc, Thomas W. McLean, MDb, Michael H. Hines, MDd and Avinash K. Shetty, MDb

a Anesthesiology
b Pediatrics
c Pathology
d Cardiothoracic Surgery, Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Brenner Children's Hospital, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

During the influenza A (H3N2) season of 2003–2004, several influenza-related complications and deaths were reported in children. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis complicating influenza A infection is very rare. We report a 3-year-old girl who presented with severe pneumonia and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis associated with influenza A infection. Clinicians should be aware of hemophagocytic syndrome as a serious complication of influenza A infection.

Key Words: influenza A • hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis • pneumonia

Abbreviations: HLH, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis • HPS, hemophagocytic syndrome • EBV, Epstein-Barr virus • VAHS, virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome • WBC, white blood cell • LDH, lactate dehydrogenase • CSF, cerebrospinal fluid • BAL, bronchoalveolar lavage • IL, interleukin

Accepted Jan 17, 2006.