Visceral leishmaniasis associated with macrophage activation syndrome: Case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: The combination of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) makes the diagnosis difficult due to their similar clinical presentation, with a poor prognosis especially since the treatment is still poorly codified.We report the case of a 17-month-old female patient from Berkane, presenting for a 3 months history of anarchic fever with anemic syndrome made up of pallor and hemorrhagic syndrome made up of epistaxis. Physical examination revealed a temperature of 39 ° C, lower limbsedema, paleness of skin and mucous membranes, gingival petechiae, bleached hair, and hepatosplenomegaly. CASE PRESENTATION: , the blood smear was without abnormality. These anomalies were associated with a hypoalbunemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperferritinemia, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level was at 337 IU/L, low prothrombin time (PT) at 56 % and fibrinogen level at 1 g/L. The direct Coombs test was positive. Examination of the myelogram revealed the presence of leishmania bodies and figures of hemophagocytosis. A diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis associated with MAS was made.The patient was put on liposomal amphotericin B and corticosteroid therapy with good clinical and biological evolution and good therapeutic tolerance. CONCLUSION: The association of VL and MAS remains rare and should be evoked even in non-endemic areas since late diagnosis worsens the prognosis and may even be responsible for the death of patients despite an aggressive treatment.