Successful treatment of lymphohistiocytic reticulosis with phagocytosis with epipodophyllotoxin VP 16–213

Lymphohistiocytic reticulosis with phagocytosis is a rare, familial disorder affecting infants and children. It is characterized by fever, pancytopenia, hepatosplenomegaly, and a rapidly fatal course. Prior attempts to treat this disease have been unsuccessful. We describe two patients with lymphohistiocytic reticulosis with phagocytosis and hyperlipidemia. A sibling of one patient had died of the same disease. One patient also had abnormal lymphocyte response to mitogens. Both patients who were treated with epipodophyllotoxin VP 16-213 (VP-16) had remission of their disease and resolution of hyperlipidemia. VP-16 appears to be an effective agent for treating lymphohistiocytic reticulosis with phagocytosis.