What Is the Average Life Expectancy Someone With HLH Syndrome?

By Staff WriterLast Updated April 06, 2020

The life expectancy of a person diagnosed with familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is two to six months from the date of diagnosis, according to Social Security Disability Help. Other types of HLH syndrome have longer life expectancies. Also, early diagnosis and treatment yields better outcomes.

Familial HLH causes the immune system to be over-reactive, resulting in inflammation in the liver, bone marrow, nervous system and spleen, as Social Security Disability Help advises. Diagnosis typically occurs in early childhood after a virus or other infection virus triggers the disease. Acquired and secondary HLH have better survival rates and respond better to treatment.