Rituximab as successful adjunct treatment in a patient with disseminated nontuberculous mycobacterial infection due to acquired anti-interferon-γ autoantibody

Clin Infect Dis. 2014 Mar;58(6):e115-8. doi: 10.1093/cid/cit809. Epub 2013 Dec 11.

Abstract

An acquired immune deficiency due to interferon gamma (IFN-γ) autoantibodies was diagnosed in a 78-year-old Japanese man with treatment-refractory disseminated nontuberculous mycobacterial infection. In addition to standard antimycobacterial therapy, he was successfully treated with rituximab to eliminate B cells and thereby the autoantibody. Subsequently, he obtained a sustained remission from infection.

Keywords: immune deficiency; interferon gamma; nontuberculous mycobacteria; rituximab.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / therapeutic use*
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Autoantibodies / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology*
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / drug therapy*
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / immunology*
  • Rituximab

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Autoantibodies
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Rituximab
  • Interferon-gamma