Splenectomy as a therapeutic approach in refractory hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Zhang et al. have reported a case of an adult man with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) with an unknown etiology who has achieved a remission of HLH following comprehensive treatment based on splenectomy. In the present communication, the author critically discusses diagnostic and therapeutic issues related to the reported case, and questions utility of splenectomy in the treatment of active HLH.