Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist to treat cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis with secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis.

Cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis (CHP) is a rare, usually fatal disease of childhood; it typically presents with daily high spiking fevers and severe panniculitis. Hemophagocytosis from macrophage activation during a cytokine storm can result in pancytopenia and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy. We describe a 14-year-old girl with long-standing CHP who developed severe hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, which responded to treatment with a combination of high dose corticosteroids, cyclosporine, and the interleukin 1 receptor antagonist, anakinra.