A Case of TAFRO (Thrombocytopenia, Anasarca, Fever or Fibrosis of the Bone Marrow, Renal Dysfunction, and Organomegaly): Exploring the Idiopathic Variant of Multicentric Castleman Disease

Characterized by Thrombocytopenia, Anasarca, Fever or Fibrosis of the bone marrow, Renal dysfunction, and Organomegaly, TAFRO syndrome is a rare systemic inflammatory disorder often presenting with diffuse lymphadenopathy and characteristic lymph node histopathology. Given its rapid progression and overlapping presentation with other systemic diseases, early diagnosis and treatment are vital for improving patient outcomes. Here, we report the case of a 43-year-old male with a medical history of chronic kidney disease and heart failure who presented with progressive anasarca and respiratory distress. The composite of clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic findings met the diagnostic criteria for TAFRO syndrome. The patient was treated with high-dose corticosteroids and anti-interleukin-6 therapy, leading to improvement of his symptoms. This case underscores the importance of integrating clinical features with histopathologic findings for early recognition and prompt initiation of immunosuppressive and anti-cytokine therapy to optimize the clinical outcomes of patients with TAFRO syndrome.