Epstein-Barr virus-induced haemophagocytic syndrome.

Haemophagocytic syndrome or haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a disorder of histiocytes that has sepsis-like features, combined with haemophagocytosis, cytopenias, hyperferritinaemia, hypercytokinaemia and splenomegaly. Diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic guidelines are available for childhood (familial) haemophagocytic syndrome. The disorder is diagnosed less frequently among adults than children. We report a case of Epstein-Barr virus-induced haemophagocytic syndrome in a 23-year-old man, who responded to treatment with steroids and chemotherapy.