Acute Cytomegalovirus infection complicated with Haematophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in a young male with an inaugural diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A case report

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease due to a diverging immune response resulting in immune-mediated damage to tissues with significant morbidity and mortality. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a constantly encountered, widespread herpesvirus with a mild impact on immunocompetent hosts but can lead to significant morbidity and mortality in the immunocompromised host. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and potentially fatal clinical condition with a collection of symptoms resulting from exaggerated immune activation, response, and cytokine storm. HLH can be primary which is genetically predisposed, and secondary which is usually preceded by an infection or an inflammatory process which then is referred to as macrophage activation syndrome. Here we report a rare case of a young male with an inaugural diagnosis of SLE complicated with HLH following a recent CMV infection.