Objective. A very low percentage of glycosylated ferritin (<20%) has only been reported in association with adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), a disease classically associated with hemophagocytic syndrome. We undertook this study to determine whether hemophagocytic syndrome outside the context of AOSD is also associated with a very low percentage of glycosylated ferritin.
Methods. From October 2006 to September 2007, the serum level of glycosylated ferritin was determined in all consecutive patients seen in 3 departments and for whom the diagnosis of hemophagocytic syndrome was suspected. The level of glycosylated ferritin in these patients was compared with that in age-and sexmatched controls with a marked inflammatory syndrome not associated with hemophagocytic syndrome. We assessed the value of glycosylated ferritin as a marker for the diagnosis of hemophagocytic syndrome.
Results. Forty-two patients were included in the study (14 with confirmed hemophagocytic syndrome, 7 with suspected but unconfirmed hemophagocytic syndrome, and 21 controls). The median level (interquartile range [IQR]) of total serum ferritin was significantly higher in patients with confirmed hemophagocytic syndrome (3,344 g/liter [2,074-7,334]) than in patients with suspected but unconfirmed hemophagocytic syndrome (555 g/liter [464-1,420]) (P β«Ψβ¬ 0.02