An Autopsy Case of Hemophagocytic Syndrome Associated with Miliary Tuberculosis

Abstract

A 56-year-old female with chronic renal failure secondary to diabetic glomerulosclerosis was hospitalized and had a fluminant clinical course with pancytopenia, abnormal liver function tests, and coagulopathy. Bone marrow aspirate findings were typical of reactive hemophagocytosis. The patient died after 21 days of hospitalization and autopsy findings showed disseminated miliary tuberculosis. To our knowledge, only eight cases of miliary tuberculosis with bone marrow hemophagocytosis have previously been described. The presence of reactive hemophagocytosis requires a prompt and thorough search for treatable infections.