Background: Epstein-Barr virus-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV-HLH) is the most frequent subtype of secondary HLH triggered by infections. Previous studies have shown that similar to 30 % or more of patients with EBV-HLH do not respond to standard therapy. This study investigated the efficacy and safety profile of a modified DEP regimen in combination with PEG-aspargase (L-DEP) as a salvage therapy for refractory EBV-HLH. Methods: In this study from October 2014 to October 2015, 28 patients with refractory EBV-HLH received a L-DEP regimen at the Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University. Treatment efficacy and adverse events were evaluated at 2 and 4 weeks after L-DEP treatment. Results: Median EBV-DNA concentrations before and 2 weeks after receiving the L-DEP regimen were 9.6 x 10(5) (1.5 x 10(4) - 1 x 10(9)) copies/mL and 2.2 x 10(5) (3.8 x 10(2) - 1.2 x 10(7)) copies/mL, respectively; the post-treatment values were significantly lower than that of the pretreatment (P = 0.048). Nine of the 28 study patients achieved complete response (CR) and 15 partial response (PR), resulting in an overall response rate of 85.7 % (CR+PR). Four patients who did not achieve response died within 4 weeks of receiving L-DEP. Thirteen of the 24 patients who achieved partial or complete response received subsequent allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Ten of these 13 patients survived until 1 March 2016. The major adverse effects of the L-DEP regimen were high serum amylase concentrations, abnormal liver function, and coagulation disorders. Conclusions: This study suggests that L-DEP is a safe and effective salvage therapy prior to allo-HSCT for refractory EBV-HLH and increases the possibility of such patients receiving allo-HSCT.