The Hemophagocytic Syndrome (HPS) may be caused by disseminated toxoplasmosis.
The patient is usually immunocompromised (AIDS, transplant) but can be immunocompetent.
Clinical findings:
(1) fever
(2) hepatosplenomegaly
Laboratory findings:
(1) proliferation of macrophages ingesting erythrocytes in biopsies (bone marrow, other sites)
(2) evidence of toxoplasmosis (direct detection of organisms, PCR, etc).
(3) liver dysfunction (abnormal liver function tests)
(4) pancytopenia
(5) variable hypofibrinogenemia
Since HPS can be associated with several causes (viruses, bacteria, etc) , the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis-related HPS requires exclusion of other causes.
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