Disseminated Mycobacterium haemophilum skeletal disease in a patient with interferon-gamma deficiency

Intern Med J. 2015 Oct;45(10):1073-6. doi: 10.1111/imj.12875.

Abstract

Disseminated non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection is rare in immunocompetent adults. Anti-interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) autoantibodies have recently been associated with NTM infections, particularly in patients of Asian ethnicity. We describe a case of disseminated Mycobacterium haemophilum skeletal infection due to anti IFN-γ autoantibodies in a 71-year-old Cambodian man. He responded to a combination of anti-mycobacterial antibiotics without requirement for immunomodulator therapy. Testing for acquired IFN-γ deficiency due to IFN-γ autoantibodies should be considered when standard tests for immunodeficiency are negative in patients with unusual or severe opportunistic infections, including NTM.

Keywords: Asian; IFN-gamma; Mycobacterium; immunodeficiency.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Asian People
  • Autoantibodies / blood*
  • Cambodia
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / deficiency*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / diagnosis*
  • Mycobacterium haemophilum
  • Tuberculosis, Osteoarticular / diagnosis*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Interferon-gamma