High concentration of miR-133 is a useful marker for the diagnosis of lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic syndrome

BACKGROUND: Lymphoma associated hemophagocytic syndrome (LAHS) is one of the major adult secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Early diagnosis and treatment contribute to improved outcome. No enlarge lymph nodes can often delay the diagnosis of underlying lymphoma. OBJECTIVE: To find out criteria distinguishing LAHS from HLH induced by benign diseases. METHODS: clinical characteristic and laboratory feature of 31 patients with HLH (10 benign disease-associated HLH and 21 LAHS) were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: No significantly differences were observed in the levels of LDH, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha; however, the level of CRP (C reactive protein) and the mean level of sIL-R (soluble interleukin-2 receptor) were higher in patients with LAHS than those with benign disease associated disease associated HLH while ferritin levels were higher in benign disease associated HLH than in LAHS. Consequently, the serum sIL-2R/ferritin ratio of patients with LAHS was markedly higher than that of patients with benign disease associated HLH (0.33 +/- 0.23 vs 5.82 +/- 3.26, P = 0.0001). In addition, we found out that the mean level of miR-133 (microRNA-133) was significant higher in LAHS than in benign disease associated HLH (18.83 +/- 10.44 vs 5.82 +/- 3.26, P <= 0.0001). Conclusion: Serum miR-133 is a new very useful marker for diagnosing of LAHS, but it need further confirmation by further clinical studies.