A friend of mine's 3 month old son has been diagnosed with Hemophagocytic Lmphohistiocytosis. Please keep Bryce in your thoughts and prayers.
Thanks and Hookem,
Shawn
Below is a definition of the disorder.
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare disorder primarily affecting young children at a very early age, but it is found in patients of all ages. Although physicians have written about the disorder over the years, it has only been recently that it has received much attention.
The human body contains many types of cells which help fight infection. One type of cell is called the histiocyte. Histiocytes are produced by the bone marrow, and they may travel throughout the body. At a later stage, these cells remain in place within various tissues in the body. Their job is to help destroy certain foreign materials and to fight infections. This is done in cooperation with other important cells.
Patients with active HLH have too many of these histiocytes, as well as lymphocytes (another kind of infection-fighting cell), both of which are so-called white blood cells that may cause inflammation (swelling, redness, heat, pain, and loss of function). These cells then begin to penetrate and accumulate in good tissue and can cause damage to a variety of organs.
Thanks and Hookem,
Shawn
Below is a definition of the disorder.
Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare disorder primarily affecting young children at a very early age, but it is found in patients of all ages. Although physicians have written about the disorder over the years, it has only been recently that it has received much attention.
The human body contains many types of cells which help fight infection. One type of cell is called the histiocyte. Histiocytes are produced by the bone marrow, and they may travel throughout the body. At a later stage, these cells remain in place within various tissues in the body. Their job is to help destroy certain foreign materials and to fight infections. This is done in cooperation with other important cells.
Patients with active HLH have too many of these histiocytes, as well as lymphocytes (another kind of infection-fighting cell), both of which are so-called white blood cells that may cause inflammation (swelling, redness, heat, pain, and loss of function). These cells then begin to penetrate and accumulate in good tissue and can cause damage to a variety of organs.
