Differential Diagnosis of Hyperferritinemia in Critically Ill Patients

Marked hyperferritinemia in critically ill cancer patients

OBJECTIVES

To investigate characteristics and outcomes of critically ill cancer patients with marked hyperferritinemia.

METHODS

A single-center retrospective analysis comprising cancer patients with a ferritin level >10.000 μg/L treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) between 2012 and 2022 was conducted.

RESULTS

A total of 117 patients were included in the analysis. The median age was 59 years (range: 15-86 years). Females accounted for 48% of cases. 90% of patients had a hematologic malignancy. The median maximum ferritin level was 27.349 μg/L (range: 10.300-426.073 μg/L). The diagnostic criteria of septic shock were fulfilled in 51% of cases; 31% of patients had hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) according to the HLH-2004 criteria. Mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy and the use of vasopressors were necessary in 59%, 35% and 70% of cases, respectively. The ICU, hospital, 90-day and 1-year survival rates were 33.3%, 23.1%, 23.7% and 11.7%. Patients with septic shock had a worse survival than those without septic shock (p = .001); the survival of patients who fulfilled the HLH-2004 criteria did not differ from those who did not (p = .88).

CONCLUSION

Critically ill cancer patients with marked hyperferritinemia have poor outcomes. The present data may help to make informed decisions for this patient group.

Hyperferritinemia: Important Differentials for the Rheumatologists

Ferritin is commonly used as a marker for iron status, aiding in diagnosing iron deficiency anemia. However, it is also an acute phase reactant often elevated in various inflammatory conditions. Marked hyperferritinemia, defined as ferritin levels above 10,000 μg/L, can indicate severe underlying conditions, including infections, cardiovascular like heart failure, endocrinological, autoimmune, and malignancies. This case report highlights the differential diagnoses and clinical implications of hyperferritinemia from a rheumatological perspective. Here are two case reports illustrating the use of ferritin in aiding the diagnosing of two uncommon conditions: adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). The first case involves a 37-year-old male who presented with a pruritic rash, flu-like symptoms, joint pain, fever, and chills. Despite multiple emergency department (ED) visits, his hyperferritinemia reached 88,000 μg/L, and he met the Yamaguchi criteria for AOSD. Treatment with pulse-dose steroids led to a rapid resolution of symptoms. In the second case, a 50-year-old female presented with sepsis due to recurrent axillary skin infections, needing transfer to the intensive care unit. Laboratory findings revealed hyperferritinemia of 39,671 μg/L, crucial for distinguishing between rheumatological and hematological causes. Further investigation revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Tragically, the patient succumbed to her illness. The cases highlight the critical role of ferritin as a marker for underlying severe conditions. The clinical interpretation of ferritin levels and appropriate diagnostic workup are essential in identifying and managing these conditions to reduce morbidity and mortality. Ferritin levels should not be overlooked as merely an indicator of iron status or inflammation. Marked hyperferritinemia requires thorough investigation to differentiate between potential underlying conditions that may allow for more prompt recognition and management to reduce morbidity and mortality.

Omission of etoposide in the treatment of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to primary central nervous system lymphoma with satisfactory response

Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a hyperinflammatory condition that can be either familial or acquired and, if untreated, frequently results in multiorgan failure and death. Treatment of HLH typically requires a combination of glucocorticoids and cytotoxic chemotherapy. We describe the case of a woman who presented with signs and symptoms concerning for HLH who was later found to have a primary central nervous system (CNS) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Her HLH symptoms were successfully treated with high doses of dexamethasone, and her primary CNS lymphoma was treated with high-dose methotrexate and rituximab. This is a rare case of HLH secondary to primary CNS lymphoma where HLH was controlled with steroids alone and did not require the use of an etoposide-based regimen or cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone.

Value of hemophagocytosis in the diagnosis of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in critically ill patients

BACKGROUND

Ferritin is an established biomarker in the diagnosis of secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), which is diagnosed by the HLH-2004 criteria. Among these criteria, detection of hemophagocytosis through invasive procedures may delay early life saving treatment. Our aim was to investigate the value of hemophagocytosis in diagnosing HLH in critically ill patients.

METHODS

In this secondary analysis of a retrospective observational study, we included all patients aged ≥18 years and admitted to any adult ICU at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin between January 2006 and August 2018, who had hyperferritinemia (≥500 μg/L) and underwent bone marrow biopsy during their ICU course.

RESULTS

Two hundred fifty-two patients were included, of whom 31 (12.3%) showed hemophagocytosis. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, maximum ferritin was independently associated with hemophagocytosis. By removing hemophagocytosis from HLH-2004 criteria and HScore, prediction accuracy for HLH diagnosis was only marginally decreased compared to the original scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results strengthen the diagnostic value of ferritin and underline the importance of considering HLH diagnosis in patients with high ferritin but only four fulfilled HLH-2004 criteria, when hemophagocytosis was not assessed or not detectable. Proof of hemophagocytosis is not required for a reliable HLH diagnosis.

Unleashing the Cytokine Storm: A Case of Macrophage Activation Syndrome in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), synonymous with secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), is a rare and critical complication of rheumatologic disease stemming from the unregulated activation and rapid multiplication of macrophages and T lymphocytes. While it primarily manifests in children diagnosed with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA), it can arise less frequently in other rheumatologic conditions. Here, we outline the clinical course, treatment, and outcome of MAS diagnosed in an 18-year-old female previously diagnosed with SLE who exhibited a unique clinical presentation.

Cytokine Storm and Sepsis-Induced Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome

There is extensive overlap of clinical features among familial or primary HLH (pHLH), reactive or secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH) [including macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) related to rheumatic diseases], and hyperferritinemic sepsis-induced multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS); however, the distinctive pathobiology that causes hyperinflammatory process in each condition requires careful considerations for therapeutic decision-making. pHLH is defined by five or more of eight HLH-2004 criteria [1], where genetic impairment of natural killer (NK) cells or CD8+ cytolytic T cells results in interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-induced hyperinflammation regardless of triggering factors. Cytolytic treatments (e.g., etoposide) or anti-IFN-γ monoclonal antibody (emapalumab) has been effectively used to bridge the affected patients to hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Secondary forms of HLH also have normal NK cell number with decreased cytolytic function of varying degrees depending on the underlying and triggering factors. Although etoposide was uniformly used in sHLH/MAS in the past, the treatment strategy in different types of sHLH/MAS is increasingly streamlined to reflect the triggering/predisposing conditions, severity/progression, and comorbidities. Accordingly, in hyperferritinemic sepsis, the combination of hepatobiliary dysfunction (HBD) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) reflects reticuloendothelial system dysfunction and defines sepsis-associated MAS. It is demonstrated that as the innate immune response to infectious organism prolongs, it results in reduction in T cells and NK cells with subsequent lymphopenia even though normal cytolytic activity continues (Figs. 30.1, 30.2, 30.3, and 30.4). These changes allow free hemoglobin and pathogens to stimulate inflammasome activation in the absence of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production that often responds to source control, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), plasma exchange, and interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), similar to non-EBV, infection-induced HLH.

Inpatient recognition and management of HLH

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is one of the life-threatening emergencies that a hematologist may be called upon to diagnose and manage. It is a hyperinflammatory process that develops in patients with genetic abnormalities, hematologic malignancies, chronic inflammatory states, or infections. The main clinical challenges are recognizing HLH, determining whether the immune response is aberrant or appropriate, and deciding upon therapy. Patients may present with fever, central nervous system symptoms, cytopenias, or elevated liver enzymes. Recognizing HLH is challenging because its features overlap with numerous systemic disorders, thus requiring a high level of suspicion and timely investigations to confirm the diagnosis and detect the underlying trigger. Once HLH is diagnosed, careful consideration of immunosuppressive therapy's potential benefit versus harm is necessary. Such therapy can sometimes be tailored to the underlying trigger. In the acute setting, the competing pressures of completing a thorough diagnostic process (including evaluation for the presence of lymphoma and infection) and the need for expedited treatment must be balanced. During the management of an HLH patient, continuous vigilance for the presence of as-yet unrecognized disease triggers, monitoring response, and identifying emerging complications is critical. This review will discuss the recognition and management of HLH in the inpatient setting.

Atypical Adult Still's Disease Complicated by Hemophagocytic Syndrome in an Older Patient: A Case Report

Hyperferritinemia can occur in various diseases, making the differential diagnoses diverse and often fatal. The macrophage-activated syndrome (MAS) is a differential diagnosis of hyperferritinemia in which systemic macrophages are activated and cause various symptoms. Many cases are complicated by hemophagocytic syndrome, causing pancytopenia, which can be fatal. Furthermore, it is challenging to diagnose hyperferritinemia in elderly patients, and the disease may develop into a fever of unknown origin. We report the case of a 93-year-old man with aspiration pneumonia, followed by intermittent prolonged fever complicated by abnormal hyperferritinemia and leukopenia. Based on his general condition, he was diagnosed with atypical adult Still's disease and treated with steroid pulses and tocilizumab, temporarily relieving his symptoms. However, the patient eventually developed sepsis and could not be saved. Diagnosis of hyperferritinemia in the elderly population is complex and requires immediate attention. However, invasive intervention may lead to the deterioration of an elderly patient's condition. In the context of medical care for the elderly at a community hospital, it is necessary to provide comprehensive care for those in critical condition, considering the degree of invasiveness of examinations and procedures.