Hemophagocytic syndrome associated with Hodgkin lymphoma and Epstein-Barr virus infection. A case report

Abstract

Background: Hodgkin lymphoma is a malignant neoplasm of B lymphoid cells whose histologic characteristic is the presence of Reed-Sternberg cells in an inflammatory environment. Case report: A 37-year-old woman with a history of up to 40°C fever for four months, progressive and bilateral decrease in hearing acuity, weight loss of up to 6 kg, cervical lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and pancytopenia. Auditory sensory neuropathy was confirmed. The patient developed hemophagocytic syndrome, therefore, infectious and autoimmune etiologies were ruled out. The CT scan revealed hepatosplenomegaly with thoracic and abdominal cervical nodes, with loss of fatty hilum. The laboratory tests showed evidence that suggested the reactivation of the Epstein-Barr virus. Through a submandibular node biopsy, the diagnostic conclusion was that lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin's lymphoma was present. Conclusion: This is the first report in Latin American literature about a patient with hemophagocytic syndrome that is secondary to classic Hodgkin lymphoma and associated with Epstein-Barr infection.