Crohn's Disease Complicated by Epstein-Barr Virus-driven Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Successfully Treated with Rituximab

Overview

Journal BMJ Case Rep

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2017 Feb 24

PMID 28228435

Citations 6

Authors

Grace Thompson

Dominic Pepperell

Ian Lawrence

Benjamin David McGettigan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

We report a case of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-driven haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in a man with Crohn's disease treated with 6-mercaptopurine and adalimumab therapy who was successfully treated with rituximab therapy alone. This is the first published case in an adult patient with EBV-driven HLH in the setting of thiopurine use and inflammatory bowel disease to be successfully treated with rituximab therapy alone. Here, we will discuss putative immunological mechanisms which may contribute to this potentially life-threatening complication.

Citing Articles

Impact of Epstein-Barr virus infection in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

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Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Case Report and Systematic Review.

Brambilla B, Barbosa A, Scholze C, Riva F, Freitas L, Balbinot R Inflamm Intest Dis. 2020; 5(2):49-58.

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Increased incidence of systemic serious viral infections in patients with inflammatory bowel disease associates with active disease and use of thiopurines.

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Johnson C, Dassopoulos T Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2018; 20(11):53.

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Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Secondary to Unknown Underlying Hodgkin Lymphoma Presenting with a Cholestatic Pattern of Liver Injury.

Booth A, Osehobo P, Rodgers-Soriano D, Lalarukh A, Eltorky M, Stevenson H Case Rep Gastroenterol. 2018; 12(1):99-108.

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