Successful treatment of a patient with refractory haemophagocytic syndrome in systemic lupus erythematosus with mycophenolate mofetil

Abstract

Haemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is one of the most severe complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although corticosteroids are usually selected as an initial treatment, some patients are corticosteroid-resistant and require additional immunosuppressants. Here, we report a case of SLE-associated HPS patient who was resistant to prednisolone, calcineurin inhibitors, cyclophosphamide, plasma exchange and infliximab but was successfully treated with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). MMF could be an alternative treatment for intractable HPS complicated with SLE.

Keywords:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• haemophagocytic syndrome
• mycophenolate mofetil
• pancytopenia
• refractory haemophagocytic syndrome

Acknowledgements

We thank all the colleagues in our department for their kind cooperation in this case report.

Conflict of interest

None.