Virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome in an international traveler as a differential diagnosis of SARS

Intern Med. 2005 Apr;44(4):342-5. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.44.342.

Abstract

During the epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003, a 27-year- old Japanese woman presented a high fever and acute respiratory distress with pulmonary infiltrates after traveling to a high-risk area. An alternative diagnosis was made as Epstein-Barr virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome, based on the proliferation of macrophages with hemophagocytosis in the bone marrow and Epstein-Barr viral marker profiles. Virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome in an international traveler should be included in the differential diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / diagnosis*
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / virology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Genome, Viral
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human* / drug effects
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human* / genetics
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human* / immunology
  • Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell / diagnosis*
  • Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell / drug therapy
  • Histiocytosis, Non-Langerhans-Cell / virology
  • Humans
  • Methylprednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Thailand
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Travel*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • DNA, Viral
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Methylprednisolone