COVID‐19‐associated secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis requiring hematopoietic cell transplant

Abstract

Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infection causes a variety of extrapulmonary complications in pediatric patients. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) are related to hypercytokinemia in COVID‐19 patients. HLH is a disorder of exaggerated inflammation resulting in a cytokine storm and unrestricted hemophagocytosis. HLH can be primary (familial) or secondary (acquired). Secondary HLH (sHLH) can occur in patients with rheumatologic, oncologic, or infectious diseases. The link between COVID‐19 and HLH has been reported in pediatric patients. Here we report a case of a pediatric patient who developed refractory sHLH secondary to COVID‐19 infection and required a hematopoietic cell transplant for the cure.

Keywords

• hematology
• infection
• pediatrics
• stem cell transplantation
• thrombocytopenia