[Precise diagnosis and treatment of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis guided by cytokine patterns].

ABSTRACT

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening entity which presents as multi-organ dysfunction caused by overactivated T cell and macrophage and overwhelming hyperinflammation. Cytokine storm is the key pathophysiology of HLH. Due to the diversity of the underlying diseases, the difference of disease severity and the non-specific clinical manifestation, the early diagnosis and standardized treatment is a great challenge for clinicians. According to previous clinical studies, serum cytokine measurement is helpful for rapid diagnosis of HLH and the differentiation of HLH from other diseases caused by hypercytokinemia, and it perfoms well to clarify subtypes of HLH, to stratify patients with different risks and to predict the prognosis and outcome. Thus, serum cytokine measurement could be a useful tool for the precise diagnosis and treatment of HLH.