• Kailong Gu, Jin Gao, Lingyan He, Zengyun Lu, and Yan Zhang.
• Department of Clinical Laboratory, Hangzhou Xixi Hospital, Hangzhou Sixth People's Hospital, Hangzhou Xixi Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2024 Nov 8; 103 (45): e40502e40502.

RationaleSevere fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick-borne zoonotic disease characterized by a high fatality rate of 12% to 15%. Despite hematologic abnormalities being frequently reported in SFTS patients, detailed characterization of peripheral blood cells, especially in severe cases, is scarce. This case report aims to fill this gap by describing the unique morphological features of blood cells in a patient with a severe outcome.Patient ConcernsA male patient presented with severe symptoms of SFTS, including high fever and thrombocytopenia, and was subsequently infected with a highly virulent strain of the SFTS virus.DiagnosesThe patient was diagnosed with virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome related to SFTS based on clinical presentation and laboratory findings.InterventionsThe interventions included comprehensive supportive care and treatment aimed at managing the severe symptoms and complications associated with SFTS.OutcomesDespite the interventions, the patient experienced significant morphological changes in white blood cells and ultimately succumbed to the illness.LessonsThe detailed description of abnormal cell morphology in this case provides valuable insights into the pathophysiology of SFTS. Recognizing these morphological abnormalities can aid in early detection and may have implications for assessing disease severity and guiding treatment strategies.Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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