TB Research

Treatment Dilemmas in Disseminated Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections With Interferon-gamma Autoantibodies

Elizabeth M. King, Victoria Weaver, Mary Kestler

Open Forum Infectious Diseases · 2021-06

Abstract

complex (dMAC) is typically seen in individuals with impaired cell-mediated immunity and is best described in those with HIV. Recently, cases have been described in otherwise healthy individuals with neutralizing antibodies to interferon-gamma (nIFNγ-autoAb), especially in patients of Southeast Asian descent. Treatment is often refractory to mycobacterial therapies, and the use of rituximab and other immunomodulatory agents has been explored. We report 3 cases of dMAC with nIFN-γ-autoAb and review the available literature on treatment strategies to provide a framework for the management of patients with refractory infections in the context of neutralizing antibodies to interferon-gamma.

MeSH terms

  • Medicine
  • Immunology
  • Context (archaeology)
  • Rituximab
  • Nontuberculous mycobacteria
  • Refractory (planetary science)
  • Interferon gamma
  • Antibody
  • Autoantibody
  • Immunotherapy
  • Mycobacterium