Immediate adverse events to intravenous immunoglobulin in pediatric patients with inborn errors of immunity: A longitudinal study with a pre-infusion protocol

Introduction Immunoglobulin represents the main therapy for patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI) and it is a safe procedure, but adverse events (AEs) can occur with variable frequencies. Objective To evaluate the frequency of immediate AEs to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) regular therapy in a pediatric cohort with IEI after a pre-IVIG infusion protocol. Methods This was a longitudinal study from 2011 to 2019 at a tertiary pediatric hospital in Brazil. Results A total of 1736 infusions were studied in 70 patients with IEI, 46 (65.7%) of whom were males and whose median age was 5.8 years old (range: 6 mo - 18 yo). Seven different brands of IVIG were used with the median loading dose of 0.57g/kg (range: 0.23 - 0.88g/Kg). According to the protocol, pre-medication and step-up infusion rate, were performed in 1305 (75.2%) infusions. Immediate AEs were noted in 10 children (14.3%) and in 22 (1.2%) infusions. Skin reactions (rash or urticaria) were the most common AE with 14 episodes (0.8% of all infusions). Almost all AEs were mild (19/86.4%), with no severe ones being observed. The majority of the AEs (81.8%) was identified at a 0.04ml/kg/min infusion rate. Gender, age at first infusion, presence of infection on the infusion day and change of the IVIG brand were evaluated and none of them were associated with AEs. Conclusion The low frequency of immediate AEs in children with IEI highlights the safety and tolerability of intravenous immunoglobulin replacement with the procedures established at our center.

Infecciones en pacientes con inmunodeficiencias primarias en Pinar del Río / Infections in patients with primary immunodeficiencies in Pinar del Rio

RESUMEN Introducción: los errores innatos de la inmunidad son trastornos cuya causa es un defecto genético en uno o más componentes del sistema inmune. A pesar de que la forma de presentación varía según el defecto genético, la mayoría cursa con enfermedades infecciosas que presentan características de recurrencia y persistencia. Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia de los procesos infecciosos en los pacientes registrados con diagnóstico de Inmunodeficiencia Primaria en el Servicio de Inmunología del Hospital Pediátrico Provincial Docente "Pepe Portilla" de Pinar del Río, en el periodo comprendido de 1994 a marzo de 2021. Métodos: estudio transversal descriptivo. Se analizaron los registros médicos de 125 pacientes diagnosticados de inmunodeficiencias que aparecen registrados en la Base de Datos del Servicio de Inmunología del Hospital Pediátrico Provincial Docente "Pepe Portilla" de Pinar del Río. Resultados: el 85,6 % de pacientes presentaron diagnóstico de algún déficit predominante de anticuerpos. Predominó el sexo masculino, y el rango etario de 6 a 10 años. Las infecciones de mayor presencia fueron la faringoamigdalitis aguda catarral (77,6 %), seguido de la neumonía (58,4 %) y la amigdalitis (56 %). De los signos de alarma que se relacionan con infecciones solo cuatro se encontraron en los pacientes del registro. Conclusión: la susceptibilidad a infecciones no es necesariamente el rasgo clínico preponderante en las inmunodeficiencias primarias, pero el fenotipo infeccioso es el mejor indicador sugestivo para algún defecto de la inmunidad. Aunque es necesario plantear nuevos criterios de manifestaciones infecciosas que faciliten el diagnóstico probable de inmunodeficiencia de forma general y por grupos.

ABSTRACT Introduction: inborn errors of immunity are disorders whose cause is a genetic defect in one or more components of the immune system. Although the form of presentation varies according to the genetic defect, most of them present infectious diseases with recurrent and persistent characteristics. Objective: to determine the prevalence of infectious processes in patients registered with diagnosis of Primary Immunodeficiency in the Immunology Service at Pepe Portilla Provincial Pediatric Teaching Hospital, Pinar del Rio in the period from 1994 to March 2021. Methods: descriptive, cross-sectional study. The medical records of 125 patients diagnosed with immunodeficiencies registered in the database of the Immunology Service at Pepe Portilla Provincial Pediatric Teaching Hospital of Pinar del Rio were analyzed. Results: the 85,6 % of patients presented diagnosis of some predominant antibody deficit. The predominant sex was male and the age range was from 6 to 10 years old. The most frequent infections were acute catarrhal pharyngotonsillitis (77,6 %), followed by pneumonia (58,4 %) and tonsillitis (56 %). Of the alarm signs related to infections only 4 were found in the patients in the registry. Conclusions: susceptibility to infections is not necessarily the predominant clinical feature in primary immunodeficiencies, but the infectious phenotype is still the best suggestive indicator for a defect in immunity. Although it is necessary to propose new criteria for infectious manifestations that facilitate the probable diagnosis of immunodeficiency in general and by groups.

One-year intravenous immunoglobulin replacement therapy: efficacy in reducing hospital admissions in pediatric patients with Inborn Errors of Immunity

Abstract Objectives: To compare the frequency of hospitalization in children with Inborn Errors of Immunity with antibody deficiency previous to intravenous immunoglobulin (pre- IVIG) with a one-year period after initial IVIG (post-IVIG). Methods: Medical reports of 45 patients during an eight-year period were reviewed from 2018 to 2019. Wilcoxon-test was used for related samples. Results: Forty-five children were included in the study, aged 29-249 months of age, and most of them (64.4%) were males. Median ages at onset symptoms and at diagnosis were 6 and 73 months old, respectively. Specific antibody deficiency and unclassified hypogammaglobulinemia were the predominant diagnoses (31.1% and 17.8%, respectively). X-linked agammaglobulinemia, Hyper IgE syndrome, Hyper IgM, transient hypogammaglobulinemia of infancy, and Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) were also reported, in a low frequency. Forty-four (97.8%) patients were hospitalized before IVIG, and 10 patients (22.2%) after. Annual mean hospital admission reduced from 2.5 to 0.5, pre and post-IVIG, respectively (p < 0.0001). Mean length of stay (LOS) reduced from 71 to 4.7 days/year (p < 0.0001) in general ward and in the PICU from 17.2 days/year to zero (p < 0.0002). Pneumonia was the main cause of hospital admission with a reduction in the number of episodes per patient from an average of 2.2-0.1 per year (p < 0.001). Concomitant use of antibiotic prophylaxis did not influence the number of hospital admission. Conclusion: One-year intravenous IVIG significantly decreased the number of hospitalizations and length of stay in children with impaired antibody production. Social and economic impacts would be required.

Clinical and Genetic Spectrum of Inborn Errors of Immunity in a Tertiary Care Center in Southern India

Objectives To study the incidence, clinical manifestations, and genetic spectrum of primary immunodefciency diseases (PID)/inborn errors of immunity (IEI) in a tertiary care hospital in Southern India. Methods A retrospective analysis of all patients with a clinical suspicion of PID/IEI seen at a tertiary care hospital was performed. All patients had at least one or more warning signs of PID. Serum immunoglobulin levels and other targeted investigations were performed as warranted by the clinical presentation. All families with suspected PID were counseled and ofered genetic testing. Results A total of 225 children were evaluated for PID during the study period of 6 y. Fifty-six of them did not meet the European Society of Immunodefciencies (ESID) criteria (working defnition of clinical diagnosis) and were excluded. An IEI was found in 30/49 (61.2%) patients. The most frequent reason for referral was recurrent/unusual or serious infections (28%), or cytopenia (16%). Group IV diseases of immune dysregulation was the most common category (19%), followed by group III predominant antibody defciencies in 23/163 (14%), as per the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) classifcation. Conclusions This study highlights the heterogeneity of the present cohort, the underuse of genetic tests, and eforts to provide optimal care for children with possible IEI in this center.

Pathogenesis based Precision Therapy for Inborn Errors of Immunity / 罕见病研究

Precision medicine aims at using target therapy on specific diseases by studying the pathogenesis and finding biomarkers. Inborn errors of immunity (IEI) are caused by single gene mutations, providing the perfect human models to study immunology. The technology rapidly developes recently, so scientists have a deeper understandings of the phenotypes, genotypes, and the biological targets, so that doctors are able to use precision medicine on IEIs with many successful cases. The precision medicine have advantages in the treatment of pathogenesis of diseases. This article summarizes successful cases of using precision medicine for IEI recently.

Errores innatos de la inmunidad en adultos / Inborn errors of immunity in adults

Introducción: La inmunodeficiencia común variable es un error innato de la inmunidad que tiene su pico de incidencia en la edad adulta. Se caracteriza por una susceptibilidad aumentada a padecer infecciones respiratorias, autoinmunidad y malignidad, secundario a un estado de hipogammaglobulinemia e inmunodisregulación, causado por mutaciones e interacciones genéticas parcialmente comprendidas. El diagnóstico es de exclusión, tiene una gran heterogeneidad clínica y comúnmente es diagnosticado de forma errónea. Objetivo: Describir un caso clínico de un paciente afectado por un error innato de la inmunidad. Caso clínico: Hombre de 35 años que se presenta a la consulta de Medicina Interna - Inmunología refiriendo un cuadro clínico de 3 años de evolución consistente en múltiples episodios de infecciones sino-pulmonares en los últimos meses, presentaba tos productiva, dificultad respiratoria y pérdida de peso no intencional de aproximadamente 8 kg. Conclusiones: La inmunodeficiencia común variable debe considerarse dentro de los diagnósticos diferenciales en todo paciente que presente alguna de sus manifestaciones clínicas, principalmente aquellas relacionadas con infecciones respiratorias a repetición, antecedente que el paciente puede presentar como relevante en sus consultas de primer nivel con medicina general o con especialistas. Su aproximación diagnóstica consiste en la solicitud de niveles séricos de inmunoglobulinas, prueba de laboratorio de fácil acceso para cualquier clínico independiente de su nivel de atención y su tratamiento se fundamenta en la administración periódica de inmunoglobulina humana exógena de forma endovenosa o subcutánea(AU)

Introduction: Common variable immunodeficiency is an inborn error of immunity that has its peak incidence in adulthood. It is characterized by an increased susceptibility to respiratory infections, autoimmunity and malignancy, secondary to a state of hypogammaglobulinemia and immunodysregulation, caused by mutations and partially understood genetic interactions. The diagnosis is one of exclusion, has great clinical heterogeneity and is commonly misinterpreted. Objective: To describe a clinical case of a patient affected by an inborn error of immunity. Methods: Retrospective description of a case report. Conclusions: Common variable immunodeficiency disorder should be considered within the differential diagnoses in every patient who presents any of its clinical manifestations, mainly those related to recurrent respiratory infections, an antecedent that the patient may present as relevant during the first-level consultations with general medicine physicians or with specialists. Its diagnostic approach consists in measuring serum immunoglobulin levels, an easily accessible laboratory test for any clinic physician regardless of their healthcare level, while its treatment is based on the periodic administration of exogenous human immunoglobulin intravenously or subcutaneously(AU)

Inborn Errors of Immunity: how to diagnose them?

Abstract Objectives: Inborn Errors of Immunity are characterized by infectious conditions and manifestations of immune dysregulation. The diversity of clinical phenotypes can make it difficult to direct the laboratory investigation. This article aims to update the investigation of immunological competence in the context of primary defects of the immune system. Source of data: Searches were carried out on Pubmed to review articles published in the last five years, in English, French or Spanish, using the terms "diagnosis" OR "investigation" AND "immunodeficiency" or "primary immunodeficiency" or "inborn errors of immunity" NOT "HIV". Recent textbook editions have also been consulted. Summary of findings: The immune system competence investigation should be started based on clinical phenotypes. Relevant data are: characterization of infectious conditions (location, recurrence, types of infectious agents, response to treatment), age during symptom onset and associated manifestations (growth impairment, allergy, autoimmunity, malignancies, fever and signs of inflammation without the identification of infection or autoimmunity) and family history. These data contribute to the selection of tests to be performed. Conclusions: The diagnostic investigation of Inborn Errors of Immunity should be guided by the clinical characterization of patients, aiming to optimize the use of complementary tests. Many diagnoses are attained only through genetic tests, which are not always available. However, the absence of a diagnosis of certainty should never delay the implementation of therapeutic measures that preserve patient life and health.

Immunodeficiencies: non-infectious manifestations

Abstract Objectives: Classical immunodeficiencies are mainly characterized by infectious conditions. In recent years, manifestations related to allergy, inflammation, autoimmunity, lymphoproliferation, and malignancies related to this group of diseases have been described. The text intends to make an update on the non-infectious manifestations of the primary defects of the immune system. Source of data: Searches were carried out in the PubMed database for review articles published in the last five years, in English, French, or Spanish, using the terms "allergy," "inflammation," "autoimmunity," "lymphoproliferation," "cancer," AND "immunodeficiency" or "primary immunodeficiency" or "inborn errors of immunity" NOT "HIV". Synthesis of data: Non-infectious manifestations characterize the primary defects in which there is dysregulation of the immune system. The most common manifestations of autoimmunity in this group of diseases are autoimmune cytopenias. Exacerbated inflammatory processes, benign lymphoproliferation, and propensity to malignancy of the lymphoreticular system are related to several diseases in this group. Severe manifestations of atopy or food allergy characterize some immunodeficiencies. Disorders of inborn immunity of the autoinflammatory type are characterized by an aseptic inflammatory process in the absence of autoimmunity, with fever and recurrent manifestations in different organs. Conclusions: Not only infectious conditions should raise the suspicion of immunodeficiencies, but also manifestations of allergy, inflammation, autoimmunity, lymphoproliferation, or cancer, especially if they are recurrent, associated to each other, affecting young patients, or in severe and/or difficult to treat conditions.

Vacinas contra a COVID-19 e os erros inatos da imunidade (ou imunodeficiências primárias) / COVID-19 vaccines and inborn errors of immunity (or primary immunodeficiencies)

Desde o início da pandemia de COVID-19 iniciou-se a corrida por uma imunização ativa, eficaz e segura. Todas as vacinas desenvolvidas até o momento vêm demostrando boa eficácia na prevenção de casos graves de COVID-19, de hospitalizações e mortes. Muitos pacientes com erros inatos da imunidade (EII) não terão capacidade de desenvolver uma resposta imune semelhante ao indivíduo imunocompetente. Esses pacientes foram incluídos nos grupos prioritários definidos pelo Ministério da Saúde, como pessoas entre 18 a 59 anos com uma ou mais das comorbidades, incluindo as imunodeficiências primárias. Eles podem e devem receber as vacinas em uso contra o SARS-CoV-2, mas nem sempre apresentarão uma resposta imunológica satisfatória e protetora, e, portanto, seus contactantes também devem ser vacinados.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the race for an active, effective, and safe immunization has started. All vaccines developed to date have shown good efficacy in preventing serious cases of COVID-19, hospitalization, and death. Many patients with inborn errors of immunity will not be able to develop an immune response similar to that of immunocompetent individuals. These patients were included in the priority groups defined by the Brazilian Ministry of Health, as people between 18 and 59 years of age with one or more comorbidities, including primary immunodeficiencies. They can and should receive the vaccines in use against SARS-CoV-2, but they will not always have a satisfactory and protective immune response, and, therefore, those in direct contact with them should also be vaccinated.

Evolução da infecção por COVID-19 em um grupo de pacientes com erros inatos da imunidade / Evolution of a Brazilian group of patients with inborn errors of immunity with COVID-19

Introdução: O novo coronavírus causou uma pandemia e desafio na saúde pública em todo o mundo. Até hoje muitos mecanismos do vírus no hospedeiro foram desvendados, cujo conhecimento é essencial para entender a evolução clínica e desenvolver uma estratégia de terapia adequada para a infecção com COVID-19. Contudo, pouco se sabe da infecção por COVID-19 em pacientes com erros inatos da imunidade (EII), principalmente em pacientes com síndromes autoinflamatórias. Objetivo: Descrever a evolução de pacientes com erros inatos da imunidade acometidos por SARS-CoV-2 em um centro de referência em doenças raras e da imunidade no Brasil. Material e métodos: Foram analisados retrospectivamente dados clínicos, radiológicos, patológicos e laboratoriais de pacientes com erros inatos da imunidade infectados por SARS-CoV-2 de março a dezembro de 2020. Resultados: Ao total, dados de 13 pacientes com diversos EII foram coletados para descrever tanto a evolução da doença quanto para buscar mais conhecimento sobre o tratamento desses pacientes. Em nenhum paciente a síndrome da angústia respiratória aguda foi observada, e também não foi observado nenhum óbito. A grande maioria dos pacientes teve evolução com síndrome gripal. Observou-se, em um paciente com CAPS-NLRP3, rash cutâneo vasculítico responsivo ao uso de anti-IL1. Conclusão: Neste pequeno grupo de pacientes com erros inatos da imunidade e com infecção por SARS-CoV-2, o risco de fatalidade foi menor do que observado na literatura. Especialmente, o fato de que a maioria apresenta maior predisposição a inflamação do que infecção deve ser levada em conta na análise dos dados finais. Reportamos pela primeira vez a presença de urticária vasculítica em paciente com CAPS, que habitualmente apresentam-se com urticária neutrofílica. Tal achado ressalta a capacidade de injúria vascular do vírus, mesmo em indivíduos predispostos geneticamente.

Introduction: The pandemic caused by the new coronavirus has become a global public health challenge. To date, many pathophysiological mechanisms of the virus have been explained, which is essential to understand clinical evolution and to develop appropriate therapeutic strategies for patients with COVID-19. However, less is known about COVID-19 in patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI), especially in those with autoinflammatory disorders. Objective: To report the natural evolution of a group of patients with IEI infected with SARS-CoV-2 treated at a center of excellence in rare diseases and immunity in Brazil. Material and methods: Clinical, radiological, pathological, and laboratory data of patients treated from March to December 2020 were retrospectively retrieved and analyzed. Results: Data of 13 patients with IEI were collected to describe the natural course of the infection with SARS-CoV-2 and to enhance understanding of treatment for these patients. Neither acute respiratory distress syndrome nor death were observed. The vast majority of patients had flu-like symptoms. Urticarial vasculitis was observed in one patient with CAPS-NLRP3 responsive to the use of anti-IL1. Conclusion: In this small group of patients with IEI and SARSCoV- 2 infection, fatality risk was lower than that observed in the literature. Importantly, the fact that our group is composed mainly of patients with predisposition to inflammation instead of infection should be taken into account for final data analysis. Furthermore, we observed for the first time the presence of urticarial vasculitis in a patient with CAPS, which is usually characterized by neutrophilic urticaria. Such finding reinforces the virus ability to cause vascular injury, even in individuals with a genetic predisposition.