Case Report: Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Secondary to Plasmodium ovale wallikeri Infection

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2023 Aug 14;109(3):608-610. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.23-0180. Print 2023 Sep 6.

Abstract

We report the first known case of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) secondary to imported Plasmodium ovale wallikeri infection in a 58-year-old white woman. A delayed diagnosis of malaria and HLH was made after protracted fever and pancytopenia failed to respond adequately to antimalarial treatment, which required intravenous methylprednisolone and gamma-globulin therapy to resolve.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antimalarials* / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic* / complications
  • Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic* / diagnosis
  • Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic* / drug therapy
  • Malaria* / complications
  • Malaria* / diagnosis
  • Malaria* / drug therapy
  • Middle Aged
  • Pancytopenia*
  • Plasmodium ovale*

Substances

  • Antimalarials