# Griscelli Syndrome Type 2 Revealed by Macrophage Activation Syndrome: Two Cases From the Same Family

**Authors:** Boutayna Halimy, Abdelilah Radi, Azzeddine Laaraje, Hassani Amale, Rachid Abilkassem

PMC · DOI: 10.7759/cureus.93180 · 2025-09-25

## TL;DR

Two siblings with Griscelli syndrome type 2 showed severe immune issues and hypopigmentation, diagnosed through clinical signs and hair sample analysis.

## Contribution

The paper highlights the importance of considering Griscelli syndrome type 2 in children with immune dysregulation and macrophage activation syndrome.

## Key findings

- Griscelli syndrome type 2 was diagnosed based on hypopigmentation, silvery hair, and immune complications.
- Macrophage activation syndrome occurred following an infection in both siblings.
- Hair sample analysis confirmed the diagnosis and ruled out Chediak-Higashi syndrome.

## Abstract

Griscelli syndrome type 2 is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the RAB27A gene. It is characterized by partial albinism, a silvery sheen of the hair, and an immune deficiency.

We report cases of two siblings, a seven-year-old boy and his 10-year-old sister, who were admitted to the emergency department with sepsis complicated by macrophage activation syndrome. Their clinical course was rapidly unfavorable.

The diagnosis of Griscelli syndrome type 2 was made in the light of a combination of clinical and biological arguments: oculocutaneous hypopigmentation, silvery sheen of the hair, the absence of psychomotor delay, the occurrence of a macrophage activation syndrome following an infection, and especially the pathognomonic appearance on microscopic examination of a hair sample. The absence of giant granulations in the nucleated cells made it possible to eliminate Chediak-Higashi syndrome.

Griscelli syndrome type 2 should be considered in children presenting with hypopigmentation, silvery hair, and immune dysregulation, particularly when complicated by macrophage activation syndrome.

## Linked entities

- **Genes:** RAB27A (RAB27A, member RAS oncogene family) [NCBI Gene 5873]
- **Diseases:** Griscelli syndrome type 2 (MONDO:0011872), macrophage activation syndrome (MONDO:0015545)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** RAB27A (RAB27A, member RAS oncogene family) [NCBI Gene 5873] {aka GS2, HsT18676, RAB27, RAM}
- **Diseases:** Griscelli Syndrome Type 2 (MESH:C537302), immune deficiency (MESH:D007154), albinism (MESH:D000417), hypopigmentation (MESH:D017496), infection (MESH:D007239), immune dysregulation (OMIM:614878), autosomal recessive disorder (MESH:D030342), Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MESH:D055501), oculocutaneous hypopigmentation (MESH:C536062), psychomotor delay (MESH:D011596), Chediak-Higashi syndrome (MESH:D002609), sepsis (MESH:D018805)

## Figures

7 figures with captions in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12553321/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12553321