Dengue fever (DF) can be complicated by hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Steroid administration is markedly effective for this hematologic complication, and for other viral infections. We present a rare case of DF-associated HLH that improved with steroid-sparing supportive care. A 47-year-old Japanese male with diabetes mellitus and no history of DF traveled to the Philippines 10 days before his hospitalization. Three days before emergency admission, he experienced fever and joint pain and was referred to our hospital for suspected DF, after blood tests indicated liver damage and thrombocytopenia. Erythema of the extremities and trunk appeared on day 2, and the next day neutrophils were 550 cells/μL, platelets 29,000 cells/μL, ferritin 9840 ng/mL, and fibrinogen 141 mg/dL. Bone marrow aspirate revealed hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and he was diagnosed with HLH. On day 4, the symptoms and findings improved; only supportive care without steroids was continued. He tested positive for dengue virus antigen on admission. He was discharged on day 9 of hospitalization in good general condition with no vascular leakage or bleeding and recovery of blood cells. Although steroid administration is markedly effective in cases of DF complicated by HLH, this case suggests that such cases can resolve with steroid-sparing supportive care.
Keywords: corticosteroids; dengue fever; hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis; supportive care; thrombocytopenia.