Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2018.
World J Crit Care Med. Nov 30, 2018; 7(6): 73-83
Published online Nov 30, 2018. doi: 10.5492/wjccm.v7.i6.73
Table 1 Descriptive statistics of 16 intensive care unit patients with hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis [expressed as median (IQR)] n (%)
ParameterValue
Age (yr)49 (26-61)
Sex
Male10 (63)
Female6 (37)
SOFA score on ICU admission10 (7-15)
Time from hospital to ICU admission0.5 (0-7)
Time to diagnose HLH (d)3 (1-7)
Immunodeficiency11 (69)
HIV infection2
Malignancy7
Autoimmune (SLE, autoimmune hemolytic anemia)2
Precipitating factors
Infection only5 (31)
Pneumonia2
EBV2
Typhoid fever1
Malignancy only2 (13)
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma1
T cell lymphoma1
Infection and malignancy combined5 (31)
EBV and plasmablastic lymphoma1
EBV and Hodgkin lymphoma1
EBV and diffuse large B cell lymphoma1
EBV and NK cell leukemia1
EBV associated lymphoproliferative disorder1
Idiopathic4 (25)
Number of HLH criteria met5 (5-6)
Principal reason for ICU admission
Severe sepsis/septic shock9 (56)
Acute respiratory failure4 (25)
GI Bleed2 (13)
Acute encephalopathy1 (6)
ICU length of stay (d)11.5 (5-29)
Hospital length of stay (d)29 (17-40)
Prior history of HLH3 (19)
Biopsies performed23
Bone marrow13
Liver4
Lymph node3
Skin2
Lung1
Bi/pancytopenia on ICU admission10 (63)
Hemophagocytosis seen on bone marrow biopsy (out of total)10 (77)
Chemotherapy received15 (94)
Table 2 Laboratory tests in patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis [expressed as median (IQR)]
Laboratory testValue
Hemoglobin on ICU Admission (gm/dL)9.3 (8.4-11.35)
Lowest Hemoglobin during ICU stay (gm/dL)6 (4.4-6.7)
Platelet count on ICU admission (K/cubic mm)89 (37-159)
Lowest platelet count (K/cubic mm)7.5 (4-22)
White blood cell count on ICU admission (K/microL)3.75 (1.75-5.4)
Lowest White blood cell count (K/microL)0.1 (0.1-0.7)
Fibrinogen on ICU admission (mg/dL)263 (86-312)
Lowest Fibrinogen (mg/dL)70 (50-176)
First Ferritin level in ICU on clinical suspicion of HLH (microgram/L)17728 (7689-37981)
Highest ferritin (microgram/L)40000 (16500-55000)
Triglycerides (mg/dL)350 (269-556)
Table 3 Intensive care unit complications in patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (Total number of patients = 16)
ICU complicationsn (%)
Mechanical ventilation12 (75)
Septic shock14 (88)
AKI13 (81)
With renal replacement therapy10
Without renal replacement therapy3
Acute liver failure8 (50)
Clinically significant bleeding10 (62)
GI bleed4
Intracerebral bleed2
Hemoptysis1
Retroperitoneal bleed1
Epistaxis1
Hematoma-neck1
DIC9 (56)
ARDS4 (25)
With ECMO2
Without ECMO2
Pneumonia6 (37)
Bacterial3
Fungal3
Viral/others0
Acute encephalopathy5 (31)
Stress cardiomyopathy2 (12)
Arrythmias (Atrial, ventricular)4 (25)
Bloodstream infections10 (62)
Bacteremia9
Gram positive organisms2
Gram negative organisms7
Fungemia1
MSOF12 (75)
Tracheostomy3 (19)
Mortality
30 d6 (37)
90 d13 (81)
Miscellaneous (Seizures, perforated viscus, cardiogenic shock requiring IABP, intra-abdominal abscess)5 (31)
Table 4 Differences in mortality based on various categorical variables
Categorical variableCategorical variableP value
Age above 50 yr (8 patients)Age less than or equal to 50 yr (8 patients)0.5
SOFA score on ICU admission above 10 (7 patients)SOFA score on ICU admission less than or equal to 10 (9 patients)0.6
Underlying immunosuppression (11 patients)No underlying immunosuppression (5 patients)0.7
Direct admission to ICU (8 patients)Transfer from floor to ICU (8 patients)0.5
Time to diagnose HLH more than 3 d (7 patients)Time to diagnose HLH less than or equal to 3 d (9 patients)0.4