familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis [L, familia, household; Gk, histion, web, kytos, cell; L, reticulum, little net; Gk, osis, condition] , an autosomal-recessive disease, characterized by anemia, granulocytopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Phagocytosis of blood cells and infiltration of bone marrow by macrophages commonly cause death in childhood. Also called familial hemophagocytic reticulosis.
