Disseminated Herpes Simplex Masquerading as Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: A Case Report

Marked elevation in serum ferritin levels may be seen in disseminated infection or severe organ failure states, but it is also present in hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Herpes simplex virus (HSV) hepatitis has a high mortality rate, even in immunocompetent individuals, in whom it is rarely reported. We present a case of hyperferritinemia with features initially suggestive of a diagnosis of HLH but that ultimately proved to be fulminant HSV hepatitis