A RESIDENT surnamed Liu was diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) after getting caught in the rain and catching a cold, the Shenzhen Evening News reported.

Liu had a persistent high fever for half a month. When he went to a hospital for an examination, his white blood cells and platelets in his blood were much lower than normal and on a continuous decline.

Liu was subsequently transferred to the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, where he was diagnosed with HLH, an uncommon hematologic disorder. His platelets and white blood cells were being swallowed up by mononuclear macrophages.

According to Lin Dongjun, a doctor at the hematology department, mononuclear macrophages can engulf invasive pathogens and digest cellular debris. However, if overactive, macrophages will also eat up normal blood and tissue cells. The overall mortality rate of HLH can reach 58 to 75 percent if it is not treated in time.

On the second day after being hospitalized, Liu suddenly developed shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat and decreased blood pressure. A bedside chest X-ray showed that he had multiple patchy shadows in both lungs.

After a month of treatment, Liu’s hemogram finally became normal. He gradually recovered and has been discharged from the hospital. (Zhang Yu)