Abstract
Serum ferritin level was measured serially in three malignant histiocytosis (MH) and five virus‐associated hemophagocytic syndrome (VAHS) patients. Serum ferritin levels were greater than 1000 ng/ml at the early phase of disease. When disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) developed in patients, serum ferritin levels elevated further to greater than 12,000 ng/ml. MH patients were treated by combination chemotherapy, and VAHS patients were given prednisone. Each MH and VAHS patient died within 1 week from the onset of DIC, without decrease of serum ferritin level. One MH patient with continued high serum ferritin levels for 3 months after DIC also died. The remaining patients with decreased serum ferritin values less than 1000 ng/ml at 3 months after DIC are now alive with normal serum ferritin levels. These results suggest that serum ferritin level in histiocytic proliferative disorders is a useful indicator of disease activity in both neoplastic and reactive conditions rather than only a marker of malignant process.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2071-2076 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Cancer |
Volume | 61 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 15 1988 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research