COVID-19 vaccination–related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis presenting as acute liver failure. Issue 1 (2nd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Awan, Rehmat Ullah; Rashid, Shazia; Nabeel, Ambreen; Samant, Hrishikesh
• Is Part Of: Proceedings. Volume 36:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 78
• Page End: 80
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02
• Subjects: Acute liver failure -- COVID-19 -- hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis -- vaccination; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Medicine -- Periodicals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.005
• DOI: 10.1080/08998280.2022.2123665
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0899-8280

Abstract

Abstract: Acute liver failure following COVID-19 infection and/or vaccination is very rare and can be secondary to hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Liver injury in such cases appears to be extrinsic and thus treatment hinges on prompt diagnosis and reversal of the primary disease. We describe a patient who developed acute liver failure secondary to HLH after receiving a second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. Persistently elevated liver function tests, fevers, and cytopenia following COVID-19 vaccination should prompt clinicians to calculate an H-score to evaluate for the presence of HLH.