Fatal Gets More Fatal: A COVID-19 Infection With Macrophage Activation Syndrome

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to be fatal despite advances in the understanding of characteristics of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), global prevention strategies, new anti-viral treatments, and worldwide vaccination programs. The exact underlying mechanism through which SARS-CoV-2 leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) resulting in intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, and eventually death remains elusive. Cytokine storm is one of the most favorable mechanisms that scientists show remarkable interest to target in randomized clinical trials with promising outcomes. Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), the most serious form of cytokine storm, requires early recognition and treatment regardless of etiology. Here, we report a 59-year-old gentleman with a COVID-19 infection complicated by MAS. Our aim is to increase awareness of this condition among health care providers as it necessitates prompt diagnosis and treatment due to an extremely poor prognosis.