M. Arico et al., Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis due to germline mutations in SH2D1A, the X-linked lymphoproliferative disease gene, BLOOD, 97(4), 2001, pp. 1131-1133
The hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytoses (HLH) comprise a heterogeneous group
of disorders characterized by dysregulated activation of T cells and macro
phages, Although some patients with HLH harbor perforin gene mutations, the
cause of the remaining cases is not known. The phenotype of HLH bears a st
rong resemblance to X-linked lymphoproliferative disease (XLP), an Epstein-
Barr virus (EBV)- associated immunodeficiency resulting from defects in SH2
D1A, a small SH2 domain-containing protein expressed in T lymphocytes and n
atural killer cells. Here it is shown that 4 of 25 male patients with HLH w
ho were examined harbored germline SH2D1A mutations. Among these 4 patients
, only 2 had family histories consistent with XLP. On the basis of these fi
ndings, it is suggested that all male patients with EBV-associated hemophag
ocytosis be screened for mutations in SH2D1A, Patients identified as having
XLP should undergo genetic counseling, and be followed long-term for devel
opment of lymphoma and hypogammaglobulinemia.