Disseminated Non-tuberculous Mycobacteriosis with a Skull Lesion Controlled by Resection after Exacerbation during Antimicrobial Chemotherapy in a Patient Positive for Anti-IFN-γ-neutralizing Autoantibodies

Intern Med. 2024 Jul 15;63(14):2053-2057. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.2151-23. Epub 2023 Dec 4.

Abstract

A 48-year-old man presented with a fever and back pain and was referred to our hospital with multiple bone destruction and abscess formation. A sputum examination revealed Mycobacterium intracellulare, and pathological findings revealed an indistinct granuloma and acid-fast bacilli, leading to a diagnosis of disseminated nontuberculous mycobacteriosis. Anti-interferon-γ-neutralizing autoantibodies were detected in the serum, and acquired immunodeficiency was suspected to be the etiology. Antimicrobial chemotherapy was initiated, and the lesions generally regressed. However, only the skull lesions worsened, requiring local resection to control the disease. Currently, the patient is continuing to receive drug therapy with good disease control after debridement.

Keywords: Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex; anti-interferon-γ-neutralizing autoantibody; bone lesion; debridement; disseminated nontuberculous mycobacteriosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood
  • Autoantibodies* / blood
  • Autoantibodies* / immunology
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / diagnosis
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / drug therapy
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / immunology
  • Mycobacterium avium Complex / immunology
  • Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / immunology
  • Skull / diagnostic imaging
  • Skull / surgery

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing