VIRUS-ASSOCIATED HEMOPHAGOCYTIC SYNDROME CAUSED BY RUBELLA IN AN ADULT

Haemophagocytic syndrome is a systemic clinicopathological entity char acterized by systemic proliferation of benign haemophagocytic histiocy tes, fever, cytopenia, abnormal liver function and, frequently, coagul opathy and hepatosplenomegaly Its occurrence has been documented in as sociation with viral, bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections, a wi de spectrum of malignant neoplasms, autoimmune diseases and drugs. We report a case of rubella virus-associated haemophagocytic syndrome in a previously healthy 29-year-old woman. Blood tests showed cytopenia, especially severe thrombocytopenia, liver dysfunction, hyperferritinae mia and hypercytokinaemia. Bone marrow examination showed many mature histiocytes with active haemophagocytosis. A skin biopsy from the rash revealed perivascular lymphohistiocytic infiltrates with haemophagocy tic histiocytes in the upper and mid-dermis. The patient was treated w ith antibiotics and immunoglobulin, and by supportive measures includi ng platelet transfusion, and recovered completely.