A Rare Asian Condition

Introduction Hemophagocytic Syndrome (HS) is a rare condition in adults that carries a very poor prognosis. Increased cytokine levels cause excessive activation of T cells and macrophages resulting in the phagocytosis of erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets and their precursors. HS in adults can occur secondary to viral illness, autoimmune disease or malignancy. Most malignant causes are T-cell or NK cell lymphoma. B-cell lymhpoma is a rare cause of HS, particularly in Western countries, and has been described almost exclusively in Asia, especially Japan.