Febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome caused by hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a case report

Xiao-Lu DENG, Li-Fen YANG, Xia WANG, Hui ZHANG, Jian HE, Jing PENG

Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics ›› 2025, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (7) : 864-869.

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Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics ›› 2025, Vol. 27 ›› Issue (7) : 864-869. DOI: 10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2503079
CASE REPORT

Febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome caused by hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a case report

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Abstract

The patient was a girl, aged 10 years, who was admitted due to fever for 5 days and pancytopenia in peripheral blood for 2 days. Bone marrow examination showed the presence of phagocytic activity, and peripheral blood tests showed pancytopenia, an increase in ferritin, a reduction in fibrinogen, increases in triglyceride and sCD25, and a reduction in natural killer cell activity, which led to the diagnosis of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). On the day of admission, the child developed convulsions and rapidly progressed to refractory status epilepticus, which was consistent with the manifestations of febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome. HLH was controlled after active immunotherapy, with the sequela of refractory epilepsy, and her cognitive function was essentially within normal limits. This article reports the condition of febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome caused by HLH for the first time in China, in order to improve the awareness of this disease among clinicians.

Key words

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis / Febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome / Child

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Xiao-Lu DENG , Li-Fen YANG , Xia WANG , et al . Febrile infection-related epilepsy syndrome caused by hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a case report[J]. Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics. 2025, 27(7): 864-869 https://doi.org/10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2503079

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所有作者均声明不存在利益冲突。

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