Pancytopaenia Associated with Disseminated Tuberculosis, Reactive Histiocytic Haemophagocytic Syndrome and Tuberculous Hypersplenism

A 38-year-old black male is reported with a rare combination of disseminated tuberculosis together with a reactive histiocytic haemophagocytic syndrome and tuberculosis hypersplenism. Tuberculosis and histiocytic haemophagocytosis were diagnosed on bone marrow examination. The pancytopaenia and splenomegaly which were present on admission did not resolve despite adequate anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy. Prior to splenectomy the patient continued to have a marked thrombocytopenia which resulted in recurrent bouts of epistaxis; splenectomy together with tuberculostatic therapy was curative for the condition. The patient remains well with normal blood counts 1 year later.