A Fatal Pulmonary Event during Plasma Exchange in a Patient with Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome

Abstract

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) caused by the SFTS virus (SFTSV), a novel <i>Phlebovirus</i>, is endemic to South Korea, central and northeastern China, and western Japan. SFTS poses a threat to public health because of its high mortality and secondary transmission. Ticks and domestic animals are hosts for SFTSV in endemic areas. There is no specific treatment for SFTS, and avoiding tick bites is the best way to prevent infection. Early therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is a rescue therapy in patients with rapidly progressive SFTS. Here, we present a patient with SFTS who was improving on TPE but died suddenly due to acute lung injury after TPE.