Clinical outcome and laboratory markers for predicting disease activity in patients with disseminated opportunistic infections associated with anti-interferon-γ autoantibodies.

BackgroundClinical courses and treatment outcomes are largely unknown in patients with adult-onset immunodeficiency associated with anti-interferon-gamma autoantibodies due to the fact that it was recently recognized and anti-IFN-γ auto-Abs detection is not widely available.Methods and findingsNon-HIV-infected adult patients with detectable anti-IFN-γ auto-Abs diagnosed and followed at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand during January 2013 to November 2016 were prospectively studied. At each follow-up visit, patients were classified as stable or active disease according to symptoms and signs, and all proven OIs were recorded. Laboratory parameters, including erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and anti-IFN-γ auto-Abs level, were compared between active and stable disease episodes. We identified 80 patients with this clinical syndrome and followed them up during study period. Seventy-nine patients developed overall 194 proven opportunistic infections. Mycobacterium abscessus (34.5%) and Salmonella spp. (23.2%) were the two most common pathogens identified among these patients. Sixty-three patients were followed for a median of 2.7 years (range 0.6-4.8 years). Eleven (17.5%) patients achieved the drug-free remission period for at least 9 months. Four patients died. Anti-IFN-γ auto-Abs concentration was significantly lower at baseline and decreased over time in the drug-free remission group compared to another group (p = 0.001). C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and white cell count were found to be useful biomarkers for determining disease activity during follow-up.ConclusionsReinfection or relapse of OIs is common despite long-term antimicrobial treatment in patients with anti-IFN-γ auto-Abs. Treatment to modify anti-IFN-γ auto-Abs production may improve long-term outcomes in this patient population

Factors associated with acquired Anti IFN- γ autoantibody in patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial infection.

The clinical syndrome of disseminated nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection in patients who were previously healthy is now well recognized to be associated with an acquired autoantibody to Interferon gamma (Anti IFN- γ autoantibody). However, the risk factors of this syndrome remain unknown.We performed an unmatched case control study among patients with NTM diseases who were diagnosed and treated at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Anti-IFN autoantibody was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Cases were patients with NTM diseases and detectable anti IFN- γ autoantibody. Controls were randomly selected from those with undetectable anti IFN- γ autoantibody. Data from both groups including demographic data, clinical presentation, laboratory results, other risk factors and HLA genotypes were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors for this syndrome.70 cases (mean age 50 ± 11 years) and 70 controls (mean age 58 ± 18 years) were enrolled into the study. Mycobacterial abscessus was the most common NTM pathogen found in both groups (72.9% in cases and 41.4% in controls respectively). However, disseminated NTM disease was significantly more common in cases (92.9%) than in the controls (14.3%, p<0.001). Binary logistic regression analysis showed that previous OIs (adjusted OR14.87, 95% CI 2.36-93.86), birthplace outside Central region (adjusted OR 19.19, 95% CI 3.86-95.35), lack of comorbidities lead to immunosuppression, such as HIV infection or diabetes mellitus (adjusted OR 23.68, 95% CI 4.01-139.94), and presence of HLA DRB1*15/16 (adjusted OR 153.28, 95% CI 16.87-139.88) were independent factors associated with this syndrome.Patients with NTM disease associated with anti IFN- γ autoantibody are almost always previously healthy and HIV negative. Most of these patients presented with disseminated NTM disease with generalized lymphadenitis and often with reactive skin lesions. Factors associated with detectable anti IFN- γ autoantibody are HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 alleles, and history of previous OIs in patients without comorbidity that leads to immunosuppression. Further studies are needed to better understand these associations and to improve the treatment outcome

HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 Are Associated with Adult-Onset Immunodeficiency with Acquired Anti-Interferon-Gamma Autoantibodies

<div><p>Recently a newly identified clinical syndrome of disseminated non-tuberculous mycobacterial diseases (with or without other opportunistic infections in adult patients who were previously healthy, has been recognized in association with an acquired autoantibody to interferon-gamma. This syndrome is emerging as an important cause of morbidity and mortality, especially among people of Asian descent. Trigger for the production of this autoantibody remains unknown, but genetic factors are strongly suspected to be involved. We compared HLA genotyping between 32 patients with this clinical syndrome, and 38 controls. We found that this clinical syndrome was associated with very limited allele polymorphism, with HLA-DRB1 and DQB1 alleles, especially HLA-DRB1*15:01, DRB1*16:02, DQB1*05:01 and DQB1*05:02. Odds ratio of DRB1*15:01, DRB1*16:02, DQB1*05:01 and DQB1*05:02 were 7.03 (95% CI, 2.18–22.69, P<0.0001, 9.06 (95% CI, 2.79–29.46, P<0.0001), 6.68 (95% CI, 2.29–19.52, P = 0.0004), and 6.64 (95% CI, 2.30–19.20, P = 0.0004), respectively. Further investigation is warranted to provide better understanding on pathogenesis of this association.</p></div

Demographic characteristics, pathogen, affected site and outcome of patients with disseminated non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections or other opportunistic infections who had positive anti-IFN- γ autoantibody.

<p>*F = Female</p><p>**M = Male</p><p>***<i>M</i>. = <i>Mycobacterium</i></p><p>****LN = Lymph node</p><p>*****BAL = Bronchoalveolar lavage.</p><p>Demographic characteristics, pathogen, affected site and outcome of patients with disseminated non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections or other opportunistic infections who had positive anti-IFN- γ autoantibody.</p

HLA class II genotypes of 32 affected individuals with disseminated opportunistic infection and positive anti- IFN- γ autoantibody (case group).

<p>HLA class II genotypes of 32 affected individuals with disseminated opportunistic infection and positive anti- IFN- γ autoantibody (case group).</p

HLA class II genotypes of healthy volunteers (No. 1–30) and pulmonary tuberculosis (No. 31–36) without anti- IFN- γ autoantibody (control group).

<p>HLA class II genotypes of healthy volunteers (No. 1–30) and pulmonary tuberculosis (No. 31–36) without anti- IFN- γ autoantibody (control group).</p