"Irony" of managing refractory anemia with transfusional support in hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Publication Type	Case Report
Authors	Lee S, Salehi I, Chary M, Schiano T, Mascarenhas J
Journal	Transfus Apher Sci
Volume	55
Issue	1
Pagination	105-8
Date Published	04/05/2016
ISSN	1473-0502
Keywords	Anemia, Refractory, Erythrocyte Transfusion, Iron Overload, Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic
Abstract	Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a life-threatening derangement of the immune system in which host macrophages phagocytose the patient's own blood cells. Herein, we present the case of a patient with HLH and associated refractory anemia who developed rapid iron deposition in the liver after transfusion of sixteen units of packed red blood cells (RBCs). Before transfusion, neither a liver biopsy nor computed tomography scan demonstrated iron deposition in the organ parenchyma. After receiving sixteen units of packed RBCs, liver iron concentration rose to 6.7 mg/g dry weight, which is highly unusual in other diseases requiring transfusional support.
DOI	10.1016/j.transci.2016.03.007
PubMed ID	27102761