A case of sepsis accompanied with foam cell syndrome in bone marrow was reported. A 66-year-old woman admitted to our hospital because of fever and general fatigue on November 25, 1981. Cultures of blood and urine were positive for E. coli, so she was diagnosed as sepsis and treated with antibiotics. After two weeks anemia and leukopenia rapidly progressed. A bone marrow aspirate was hypocellular with increased number (19.2%) of foam cells with erythrophagocytosis and scattered leukophagocytosis. Cells similar to those characterised as the “sea-blue histiocyte” were not observed. An ultrasonography showed slightly enlarged spleen. She became progressively debilitated and died on December 31. On autopsy, there was no evidence of the previously noted foam cells in bone marrow, spleen and other organs.
The relationship of this foam cell syndrome associated with E. coli infection to prominent hemophagocytosis was discussed.
