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. 2022 May 6;17(5):e0267715. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267715

Table 4. Comparison of characteristics between survivors and non-survivors in patients with MAS.

Survivors (n = 13) Non-survivors (n = 7) p-value
Sex, female, n (%) 12 (92.3) 6 (85.7) 1.000
    Age, years, mean ± SD 34.6 ± 14.5 44.4 ± 19.4 0.215
Disease duration to MAS occurrence, months, median (IQR) 1.0 (0.0, 96.0) 0 (0.0, 1.0) 0.393
Clinical features
    Splenomegaly, n (%) 10 (76.9) 3 (42.9) 0.174
    Hepatomegaly, n (%) 6 (46.2) 1 (14.3) 0.329
    Lymphadenopathy, n (%) 10 (76.9) 4 (57.1) 0.613
    Pneumonitis, n (%) 3 (23.1) 3 (42.9) 0.613
    Renal impairment¶¶, n (%) 1 (7.7) 5 (71.4) 0.007
    Neuropsychiatric manifestations, n (%) 5 (38.5) 1 (14.3) 0.354
Lab findings
    ANC, /uL, median (IQR) 2880 (685, 6475) 3240 (890, 9260) 0.588
    Hb, g/dL, median (IQR) 8.7 (7.6, 9.2) 7.6 (6.4, 8.9) 0.183
    PLT, × 109/L, median (IQR) 90.0 (61.0, 149.0) 43.0 (30.0, 74.0) 0.002
    AST, IU/L, median (IQR) 364.0 (137.0, 689.0) 81.0 (37.0, 157.0) 0.019
    LDH, IU/L, median (IQR) 1346.0 (655.5, 1893.5) 343.0 (279.0, 733.0) 0.014
    TB, mg/dL, median (IQR) 0.8 (0.4, 1.8) 0.8 (0.5, 4.5) 0.699
    Albumin, g/dL, median (IQR) 2.4 (2.1, 2.7) 2.2 (1.8, 2.8) 0.588
    ESR, mm/hr, median (IQR) 28.0 (17.5, 52.0) 23.0 (6.0, 67.0) 0.588
    CRP, mg/dL, median (IQR) 1.6 (0.4, 4.0) 6.1 (2.2, 22.0) 0.056
    Ferritin, ng/mL, median (IQR) 16817.0 (2811.5, 48286.0) 5409.7 (2784.1, 6395.3) 0.183
    TG, mg/dL, median (IQR) 322.5 (209.5, 436.3) 176.0 (137.0, 403.0) 0.299
    Fibrinogen, mg/dL, median (IQR) 214.0 (148.5, 261.0) 217.0 (176.0, 363.0) 1.000
    Low/absent NK-cell activity 5 (38.5) 1 (14.3) 0.354
    Soluble CD25 ≥ 2400 U/ml 3 (23.1) 5 (71.4) 0.062
    Hemophagocytosis, n (%) 11 (84.6) 5 (71.4) 0.587
Hscore*, mean ± SD 251.9 ± 37.8 220.9 ± 47.5 0.135
Combined infection 5 (38.5) 5 (71.4) 0.350
Previous long-term steroid use, n (%) 7 (53.8%) 1 (14.3%) 0.158
Rheumatic disease 0.354
    SLE 8 (61.5) 6 (85.7)
    AOSD 5 (38.5) 1 (14.3)

*HScore calculator (for the percentage probability of secondary HLH) is available at http://saintantoine.aphp.fr/score/.

¶¶Renal impairment was defined as an abrupt (within 48 hours) >50% decrease in eGFR or the need for renal replacement therapy (dialysis) during MAS treatment. MAS: Macrophage activation syndrome, HLH: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, ANC: Absolute neutrophil count, Hb: Hemoglobin, PLT: Platelet, AST: Aspartate aminotransferase, LDH: Lactate dehydrogenase, TB: Total bilirubin, ESR: Estimated sedimentation rate, CRP: C-reactive protein, TG: Triglyceride, SLE: Systemic lupus erythematosus, AOSD: Adult-onset still’s disease, eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate