Abstract
The development of disseminated cryptococcosis has historically occurred in patients living with advanced human immunodeficiency virus or other immunosuppressive conditions affecting T-cell function. Recently, patients with anti-cytokine neutralising autoantibodies have been recognised to be at risk for disseminated infections by opportunistic intracellular pathogens, including Cryptococcus species. Herein, we present a previously healthy 26-year-old man who was evaluated with disseminated cryptococcosis involving the bone, lung, mediastinum and brain. The patient's serum cryptococcal antigen titres were >1:1,100,000, and evaluation for an underlying immunodeficiency revealed high titres for anti-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) autoantibodies. We also review the literature of all published cases of disseminated cryptococcosis associated with the presence of anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies. Clinicians should have a heightened awareness of anti-cytokine autoantibodies in patients without a known immunodeficiency and development disseminated infections by opportunistic intracellular pathogens.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 576-582 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Mycoses |
Volume | 64 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2021 |
Keywords
- Cryptococcus
- autoantibodies
- cytokines
- fungus
- immunodeficiency
- meningitis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases