Graves' disease during immune reconstitution after highly active antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection: evidence of thymic dysfunction

New-onset type 1 diabetes and Graves' disease after antiretroviral therapy in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection

Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection receiving antiretroviral therapy can develop autoimmune diseases, referred to as immune-inflammatory reconstitution syndrome. Nevertheless, only a few reports on the onset of type 1 diabetes as immune-inflammatory reconstitution syndrome are available. A 40-year-old Japanese man with HIV infection was initiated with antiretroviral therapy at the age of 29 years. He developed Graves' disease at 35 years and diabetes, with a hemoglobin A1c of 6.5%, and maintained insulin secretion at 38 years. His antiglutamic acid decarboxylase antibody level was >2,000 U/mL, and he was diagnosed with slowly progressive type 1 diabetes. At the age of 40 years, he was admitted to our hospital with diabetic ketosis. We retrospectively assayed his stored plasma samples for thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody and antiglutamic acid decarboxylase antibody, which showed positive conversion after initiating antiretroviral therapy, suggesting that Graves' disease and type 1 diabetes developed as a probable result of immune-inflammatory reconstitution syndrome.

Graves' disease associated with HIV disease and late immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome following the initiation of antiretroviral therapy

SUMMARY

Both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) are associated with endocrine dysfunction (1). The term 'immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome' (IRIS) describes an array of inflammatory conditions that occur during the return of cell-mediated immunity following ART. Graves' disease (GD) occurs rarely as an IRIS following ART. In this study, we describe the case of a 40-year-old Brazilian female who was diagnosed with HIV following admission with cryptococcal meningitis and salmonellosis. At this time, she was also diagnosed with adrenal insufficiency. Her CD4 count at diagnosis was 17 cells/µL which rose to 256 cells/µL over the first 3 months of ART. Her HIV viral load, however, consistently remained detectable. When viral suppression was finally achieved 21 months post diagnosis, an incremental CD4 count of 407 cells/µL over the following 6 months ensued. Subsequently, she was diagnosed with a late IRIS to cryptococcus 32 months following initial ART treatment, which manifested as non-resolving lymphadenitis and resolved with high-dose steroids. Following the initiation of ART for 45 months, she developed symptomatic Graves' hyperthyroidism. At this time, her CD4 count had risen to 941 cells/µL. She has been rendered euthyroid on carbimazole. This case serves to remind us that GD can occur as an IRIS post ART and typically has a delayed presentation.

LEARNING POINTS

Endocrinologists should be aware of the endocrine manifestations of HIV disease, in particular, thyroid pathology. Endocrinologists should be aware that IRIS can occur following the initiation of ART. Thyroid dysfunction can occur post ART of which Graves' disease (GD) is the most common thyroid manifestation. GD as a manifestation of ART-induced IRIS can have a delayed presentation. Infectious disease physicians should be aware of endocrine manifestations associated with HIV and ART.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome-associated Graves disease in HIV-infected patients: clinical characteristics and response to radioactive iodine therapy

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and the response to radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome-associated Graves disease (IRIS-GD) in comparison to Graves disease (GD) seen in HIV-uninfected patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients treated with RAI for GD. We obtained clinical, biochemical and HIV-related information of patients from their medical records. We compared patient characteristics and response to RAI treatment between patients with IRIS-GD and GD seen in HIV-uninfected patients.

RESULTS

A total of 253 GD patients, including 51 patients with IRIS-GD, were included. Among IRIS-GD patients, CD4 cell nadir was 66 cells/µL (range: 37-103) with a peak HIV viral load of 60 900 copies/mL (range: 36 542-64 500). At the time of diagnosis of IRIS-GD, all patients had a completely suppressed HIV viraemia with a CD4 cell count of 729 cells/µL (range: 350-1279). The median interval between the commencement of HIV treatment and the onset of GD was 63 months. At 3 months follow-up, the proportion of patients with IRIS-GD achieving a successful RAI treatment outcome (euthyroid/hypothyroid state) was lower than that of HIV-uninfected patients (35.3% vs. 63.4%, respectively; p < 0.001). The response rate remained lower (60.8%) among patients with IRIS GD than among HIV-uninfected GD patients (80.2%, p = 0.004) at 6 months follow-up. After correcting for differences in age, gender and pre-treatment thyroid-stimulating hormone level, there was no significant difference in RAI treatment response between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

After correcting for possible confounders, the response to RAI treatment was not different between patients with IRIS-GD and GD in HIV-uninfected patients.

[Graves' disease in HIV patient receiving antiretroviral therapy]

The article focuses on the clinical case of Graves&rsquo; disease in a patient with HIV infection who is receiving antiretroviral therapy. The number of HIV-infected patients has increased significantly in recent decades all over the world. The currently used highly active antiretroviral therapy can significantly improve the prognosis for these patients. However, its use is associated with a number of complications, in particular the development of immune reconstitution syndrome, under which the development of such autoimmune diseases as Graves&rsquo; disease, polymyositis and Guillain-Barre syndrome may occur. Therefore, we would like to draw the attention of doctors to the possibility of such a complication in patients receiving antiretroviral therapy. Timely diagnosis and treatment of thyroid disorders will help to avoid the complications associated with an excess or deficit of thyroid hormones.

2019 European Thyroid Association Guidelines on the Management of Thyroid Dysfunction following Immune Reconstitution Therapy

Thyroid dysfunction (TD) frequently occurs as an autoimmune complication of immune reconstitution therapy (IRT), especially in individuals with multiple sclerosis treated with alemtuzumab, a pan-lymphocyte depleting drug with subsequent recovery of immune cell numbers. Less frequently, TD is triggered by highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or patients undergoing bone-marrow/hematopoietic-stem-cell transplantation (BMT/HSCT). In both alemtuzumab-induced TD and HIV/HAART patients, the commonest disorder is Graves' disease (GD), followed by hypothyroidism and thyroiditis; Graves' orbitopathy is observed in some GD patients. On the contrary, GD is rare post-BMT/HSCT, where hypothyroidism predominates probably as a consequence of the associated radiation damage. In alemtuzumab-induced TD, the autoantibodies against the thyrotropin receptor (TRAb) play a major role, and 2 main aspects distinguish this condition from the spontaneous form: (1) up to 20% of GD cases exhibit a fluctuating course, with alternating phases of hyper- and hypothyroidism, due to the coexistence of TRAb with stimulating and blocking function; (2) TRAb are also positive in about 70% of hypothyroid patients, with blocking TRAb responsible for nearly half of the cases. The present guidelines will provide up-to-date recommendations and suggestions dedicated to all phases of IRT-induced TD: (1) screening before IRT (recommendations 1-3); (2) monitoring during/after IRT (recommendations 4-7); (3) management of TD post-IRT (recommendations 8-17). The clinical management of IRT-induced TD, and in particular GD, can be challenging. In these guidelines, we propose a summary algorithm which has particular utility for nonspecialist physicians and which is tailored toward management of alemtuzumab-induced TD. However, we recommend prompt referral to specialist endocrinology services following diagnosis of any IRT-induced TD diagnosis, and in particular for pregnant women and those considering pregnancy.

High Incidence of Autoimmune Disease after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Chronic Granulomatous Disease

There is a lack of consensus regarding the role and method of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) on patients with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). Long-term follow-up after HSCT in these patient population is essential to know its potential complications and decide who will benefit the most from HSCT. We report the outcome of HSCT and long-term follow-up in 24 patients with CGD, transplanted in our center from either related (n = 6) or unrelated (n = 18) donors, over a 12-year period (2003 to 2015), using high-dose alemtuzumab in the preparative regimen. We evaluated the incidence and timing of adverse events and potential risk factors. We described in detailed the novel finding of increased autoimmunity after HSCT in patients with CGD. At a median follow-up of 1460 days, 22 patients were full donor chimeras, and 2 patients had stable mixed chimerism. All assessable patients showed normalization of their neutrophil oxidative burst test. None of the patients developed grades II to IV acute graft-versus-host disease, and no patient had chronic graft-versus-host disease. Twelve of 24 patients developed 17 autoimmune diseases (ADs). Severe ADs (cytopenia and neuropathy) occurred exclusively in the unrelated donor setting and mainly in the first year after HSCT, whereas thyroid AD occurred in the related donor setting as well and more than 3 years after HSCT. Two patients died due to infectious complications after developing autoimmune cytopenias. One additional patient suffered severe brain injury. The remaining 21 patients have long-term Lansky scores ≥ 80. The outcome of HSCT from unrelated donors is comparable with related donors but might carry an increased risk of developing severe AD. A lower dose of alemtuzumab may reduce this risk and should be tested in further studies.

Therapeutics targeting inflammation in the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is characterized by improvement in a previously incompetent human immune system manifesting as worsening of clinical symptoms secondary to the ability of the immune system to now mount a vigorous inflammatory response. IRIS was first recognized in the setting of human immunodeficiency virus, and this clinical setting continues to be where it is most frequently encountered. Hallmarks of the pathogenesis of IRIS, independent of the clinical presentation and the underlying pathogen, include excessive activation of the immune system, with increased circulating effector memory T cells, and elevated levels of serum cytokines and inflammatory markers. Patients with undiagnosed opportunistic infections remain at risk for unmasking IRIS at the time of active antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. Systematic screening for opportunistic infections before starting ART is a key element to prevent this phenomenon. Appropriate management of IRIS requires prompt recognition of the syndrome and exclusion of alternative diagnoses, particularly underlying infections and drug resistance. Controlled studies supporting the use of pharmacologic interventions in IRIS are scare, and recommendations are based on case series and expert opinions. The only controlled trial published to date, showed reduction in morbidity in patients with paradoxical tuberculosis-related IRIS with the use of oral corticosteroids. There are currently limited data to recommend other anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory therapies that are discussed in this review, and further research is needed. Ongoing research regarding the immune pathogenesis of IRIS will likely direct future rational therapeutic approaches and clinical trials.

Opportunistic infections and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in HIV-1-infected adults in the combined antiretroviral therapy era: a comprehensive review

Despite the availability of effective combined antiretroviral treatment, many patients still present with advanced HIV infection, often accompanied by an AIDS-defining disease. A subgroup of patients starting antiretroviral treatment under these clinical conditions may experience paradoxical worsening of their disease as a result of an exaggerated immune response towards an active (but also subclinical) infectious agent, despite an appropriate virological and immunological response to the treatment. This clinical condition, known as immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome, may cause significant morbidity and even mortality if it is not promptly recognized and treated. This review updates current knowledge about the incidence, diagnostic criteria, risk factors, clinical manifestations, and management of opportunistic infections and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in the combined antiretroviral treatment era.

Immune reconstitution disorders in patients with HIV infection: from pathogenesis to prevention and treatment

An immune reconstitution disorder occurs in up to 40 % of severely immunodeficient HIV patients who commence antiretroviral therapy (ART), with an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) being encountered most commonly. Differences in the immunopathogenesis of an IRIS associated with different types of pathogen have become apparent but common features have also been defined. These include severe immunodeficiency prior to commencing ART associated with a high pathogen load and 'compensatory' immune responses, particularly innate immune responses, which inadequately control the pathogen and increase the risk of immunopathology as the immune system recovers on ART. Prevention of an IRIS may be achieved by optimising therapy for opportunistic infections before ART is commenced, delaying ART or using immunomodulatory therapy to prevent or suppress the immune response that causes the immunopathology. However, further clinical studies are required to examine these options in a systematic manner for the various types of IRIS.

Evaluation of thyroid function and autoimmunity in HIV-infected women

Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) are the main causes of thyroid dysfunction and the most common autoimmune diseases in the world. An association between AITD and infections with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), in combination with the effects of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), has been suggested by several research groups. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of thyroid dysfunction and AITD in women > 35 years of age infected with HIV, and to identify factors associated with the emergence of these thyroid abnormalities. HIV-infected women (n = 153) selected from the infectious disease outpatient clinic at a University Hospital in Rio de Janeiro were characterized based on their circulating CD4+ lymphocytes levels, viral loads, serum TSH levels, and the presence of FT4 and anti-thyroperoxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab). A total of 129 participants were on HAART and 24 were not. The frequency of thyroid disorders was 7.8% (12/153 patients) and all were on HAART at the time of diagnosis, yielding a prevalence of 9.3% in patients receiving HAART compared with 0% in patients not on HAART. AITD, hyper, and hypothyroidism were detected in 4.6%, 3.1%, and 4.1% of HAART patients. It was not detected any thyroid dysfunction or autoimmunity in HIV-infected women not on HAART. This study demonstrated an association between HAART and the development of AITD. In addition AITD only developed in HAART patients also presenting with undetectable viral loads and slightly elevated CD4+ T cell counts.

Graves' disease as immune reconstitution disease in HIV-positive patients is associated with naive and primary thymic emigrant CD4(+) T-cell recovery

OBJECTIVE

Immune restoration disease (IRD) can develop in HIV-infected patients following antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation as unmasking or paradoxical worsening of opportunistic infections and, rarely, autoimmune phenomena. Although IRD usually occurs in the first months of ART during memory CD4 T-cell recovery, Graves' disease occurs as a distinctive late-onset IRD and its pathogenesis is unclear.

DESIGN

Seven patients who developed Graves' disease following ART initiation from the primary HIV care clinic at the National Institutes of Health were retrospectively identified and each was matched with two HIV-infected controls based on age, sex, and baseline CD4 T-cell count. Laboratory evaluations on stored cryopreserved samples were performed.

METHODS

Immunophenotyping of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), T-cell receptor excision circle (TREC) analysis in PBMCs, measurement of serum cytokines, and luciferase immunoprecipitation systems (LIPS) analysis for autoimmune antibodies were performed on stored samples for cases and controls at baseline and longitudinally following ART initiation. TSH/thyrotropin receptor (TSH-R) antibody testing was performed on serum from cases. Data were analyzed using nonparametric testing.

RESULTS

In comparison with controls, the proportion of naive CD4 T cells increased significantly (P = 0.0027) in the Graves' disease-IRD patients. TREC/10 PBMCs also increased significantly following ART in Graves' disease-IRD patients compared with controls (P = 0.0071). Similarly, LIPS analysis demonstrated increases in nonthyroid-related autoantibody titers over time following ART in cases compared with controls.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that Graves' disease-IRD, in contrast to early-onset IRD, is associated with naive and primary thymic emigrant CD4 T-cell recovery and inappropriate autoantibody production.

Graves' immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in childhood

BACKGROUND

The use of hematopoietic stem cell transplantations (HSCTs) as a curative therapy for life-threatening immunodeficiencies has had a profound impact on clinical outcomes. A subset of patients may experience immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) post-transplant affecting the thyroid gland, but this has received little attention in the pediatric literature. We present the clinical, biochemical, and cytological course of patients with Graves' disease after HSCT in the pediatric population.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Four children (median age 1.5 years, range 2 months-9 years) underwent HSCT. The conditioning regimen included chemotherapy but not radiotherapy. None of the children or their donors had evidence of thyroid disease pre-HSCT or during the follow-up period. Engraftment was uneventful in all, with stable donor T-cell chimerism, and none had evidence of graft-versus-host disease.

RESULTS

Patients developed Graves' disease soon after undergoing HSCT, with a median time interval between HSCT and Graves' disease of 22 months (range 16-28 months). Graves' disease was diagnosed on the basis of clinical and biochemical parameters, including a suppressed thyrotropin, raised free thyroxine, and raised thyrotropin receptor antibodies. Three patients were hypothyroid initially (suggestive of a Th1 profile) before Graves' disease (suggestive of a Th2 profile). In three patients, the clinical picture changed rapidly with hypothyroidism abruptly followed by profound thyroid hormone excess. The onset of Graves' IRIS coincided with a rapid expansion in naïve and total CD4.

CONCLUSIONS

Immunological dysregulation during T-cell engraftment is the most likely mechanism for developing Graves' IRIS after allogenic HSTC. Clinicians need to be aware that HSCT-engendered immune recovery may result in a particularly aggressive form of autoimmune thyroid disease in children with implications for the developing central nervous system. Careful surveillance of thyroid function post-HSCT is essential.

Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome manifesting as development of multiple autoimmune disorders and skin cancer progression

We report the case of a 56-year-old man with the rare autoimmune pathologies of alternating hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism due to thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibodies, and rheumatoid arthritis as manifestations of a human immunodeficiency virus-related immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. The patient also developed overt progression of a pre-existing skin malignancy that may also be related. This case highlights immune reconstitution syndrome as an important differential diagnosis following antiretroviral therapy commencement, and that a high index of suspicion should be maintained for this rare but important cluster of conditions. Furthermore, the patient's genetic predisposition to autoimmunity provides helpful insights into the pathogenesis of these disorders.

Graves' Disease as a Manifestation of Immune Reconstitution in HIV-Infected Individuals after Initiation of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

Graves' disease after the initiation of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in certain HIV-1-infected individuals has been described as an immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). This phenomenon should be suspected in individuals who present with clinical deterioration and a presentation suggestive of hyperthyroidism despite good virological and immunological response to HAART. Signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism may be discrete or overt and typically develop 8–33 months after initiating therapy. One to two percent of HIV-infected patients can present with overt thyroid disease. Relatively few cases of Graves' IRIS have been reported in the literature to date. We describe four cases of Graves' IRIS in HIV-infected patients who were started on HAART therapy.

An official ATS workshop report: Emerging issues and current controversies in HIV-associated pulmonary diseases

Pulmonary diseases are major causes of morbidity and death in persons with HIV infection. Millions of people with HIV/AIDS throughout the world are at risk of opportunistic pneumonias such as tuberculosis, bacterial pneumonia, and Pneumocystis pneumonia. However, the availability of combination antiretroviral therapy has turned HIV into a chronic disease, and noninfectious lung diseases such as lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pulmonary arterial hypertension are also emerging as important causes of illness. Despite the importance of these diseases and the rapidly evolving understanding of their pathogenesis and epidemiology, few avenues exist for the discussion and dissemination of new clinical and basic insights. In May of 2008, the American Thoracic Society sponsored a 1-day workshop, "Emerging Issues and Current Controversies in HIV-Associated Pulmonary Diseases," which brought together basic and clinical researchers in HIV-associated pulmonary disease. A review of the literature was performed by workshop participants, and the workshop included 18 presentations on diverse topics summarized in this article.

Autoimmune diabetes in HIV-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy

CONTEXT

Various autoimmune diseases, especially autoimmune thyroid disease, are known to occur in HIV-infected patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, no reports have described the development of autoimmune diabetes during HAART.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to investigate the clinical course of the development of autoantibodies and diabetes during HAART.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Based on their high antiislet autoantibody titers and requirement for insulin therapy, we diagnosed three HIV-infected patients with autoimmune diabetes. To clarify the relationship between the development of an autoimmune reaction against pancreatic beta-cells and recovery of CD4+ T lymphocyte (CD4) counts, we retrospectively assayed stored samples of the patients' plasma for antiglutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GAD-Ab).

RESULTS

No GAD-Ab was detected in the plasma samples of any of the three patients prior to HAART, and their CD4 counts were below 20 cells/microl at their nadir. The GAD-Ab tests became positive from 6 to 38 months after the start of HAART, and their conversion to positive followed a dramatic increase in the patients' CD4 count. Two patients developed diabetes after testing positive for GAD-Ab. Although one patient had mild diabetes prior to testing positive for GAD-Ab, the rapid worsening of glycemic control and introduction of insulin therapy almost coincided with the detection of GAD-Ab. The high magnitude of the CD4 increase during HAART and the timing of the detection of autoantibody were similar to the magnitude and timing reported in HAART-associated autoimmune thyroid disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Autoimmune diabetes develops in some HIV-infected patients after immune restoration during HAART.

Update on immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome: progress and unanswered questions

The immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) is characterized by clinical deterioration occurring after the initiation of effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) and results from a disordered and exuberant immune response. The syndrome may present as paradoxical IRIS or unmasking IRIS, depending on whether an opportunistic infection was recognized and treated before ART initiation. Numerous descriptions of IRIS caused by many pathogens were published in the years after the introduction of effective ART. In recent years, with enhanced rollout of ART in resource-limited settings, attention has again focused on IRIS because of the enormous burden of opportunistic infections. This review highlights recent findings elucidating risk factors for and the pathogenesis and treatment of IRIS.

Immune reconstitution syndrome and the thyroid

Reconstitution Graves' disease occurs in three settings. First, bone marrow transplantation from a donor with Graves' disease may cause this disease to appear in the recipient, as a result of adoptive immunity, although disordered immunoregulation secondary to graft-versus-host disease may also play a role. Second, alemtuzumab treatment for multiple sclerosis leads to the development of Graves' disease in up to a third of patients during the phase of naive T-cell expansion, which follows therapeutic lymphocyte depletion. Other reconstitution autoimmune phenomena, including immune thrombocytopaenic purpura, are also recognised after alemtuzumab administration. Finally, reconstitution Graves' disease may occur during a similar phase of CD4(+) T-cell expansion, which follows highly active antiretroviral therapy for human immunodeficiency virus infection. Again, this complication is part of a broader spectrum of immunoregulatory disturbances, which can arise after immune reconstitution. The mechanisms responsible for reconstitution Graves' disease are at present unclear, but may include a relative bias towards a Th2-mediated immune response and reduced competition for autoreactive lymphocytes to expand during the time when recovery from lymphopenia commences.

Rheumatic manifestations associated with HIV in the highly active antiretroviral therapy era

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To evaluate the rheumatic manifestations associated with HIV infection in the highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) era.

RECENT FINDINGS

The overall prevalence of rheumatic manifestations in HIV population is approximately 9% with various clinical features. Anti-TNF agents do not appear to adversely affect the CD4 cell counts or viral load if the HIV infection is well controlled prior to initiation of therapy.

SUMMARY

In the HAART era, HIV-infected individuals can be affected by various rheumatic syndromes including arthritis, spondyloarthritis, DILS, vasculitides, connective tissue disease, myopathies, and musculoskeletal diseases. With the use of HAART, the prevalence of spondyloarthritis and Diffuse Infiltrative Lymphocytosis Syndrome has decreased, whereas the musculoskeletal complications of HIV and HAART, such as osteopenia, osteonecrosis, and infection continue to be a concern. With immune restoration, various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, and polymyositis may occur de novo or exacerbate. Most antirheumatic therapies used in HIV-negative individuals appear to be safe and effective in the setting of HIV infection as long as prudent guidelines are followed.

Graves' disease during immune reconstitution in HIV-infected patients treated with HAART

Autoimmune phenomena after immune recovery due to HAART are not frequently described. Recently we found 3 patients with Graves' disease after starting HAART, outnumbering the expected incidence; 13 patients have been reported in the literature up to the present time.A probable relation between immune restoration and development of Graves' disease might be suspected.

Subclinical hypothyroidism in a patient affected by advanced AIDS and visceral leishmaniasis

Hypothyroidism has been shown to occur in HIV disease. Thyroid function of patients affected by AIDS and leishmaniasis is unknown. Here we report the case of an AIDS advanced patient developing hypothyroidism during leishmaniasis. The thyroid disorder might have been caused by infiltration of the gland by Leishmania. An additive impact of HIV in thyroid function impairment is suggested.

Disorders of immune reconstitution in patients with HIV infection responding to antiretroviral therapy

Patients with HIV infection who were very immunodeficient before achieving a virologic response to antiretroviral therapy (ART) may experience various disorders of immune reconstitution. Immune restoration disease occurs in approximately 10% to 50% of patients and results from the restoration of a pathogen-specific immune response that causes immunopathology and presents as tissue inflammation or cellular proliferative disease. Opportunistic infections occur in no more than 5% of patients, but approximately one half of these patients have higher than expected CD4 T-cell counts and appear to have residual immune dysfunction. Autoimmune disease may arise because the reconstituted immune system confers an increased susceptibility to immune dysregulation but there may be different mechanisms because Graves' disease presents after a median time of about 2 years of ART whereas systemic lupus erythematosus presents earlier. Persistent CD4 T-cell deficiency (< 500/microL) affects up to 60% of patients and appears to reflect depletion of the naïve T-cell pool that results from low production and/or increased turnover of cells.

Dermatologic Manifestations of the Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome

The immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) represents a diverse range of immunopathologic reactions resulting in clinical deterioration that may occur as immune function is partially restored in HIV-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy. Approximately half of IRIS events are dermatologic, and dermatologic IRIS is described in relation to a wide range of conditions, the commonest being herpes zoster and herpes simplex. Most cases of IRIS result in mild and moderate symptoms, but non-dermatologic manifestations related to IRIS have resulted in death. This article covers certain general issues related to IRIS and then focuses on the spectrum of dermatologic manifestations.

Complexity of Anti-immunosenescence Strategies in Humans

Immunosenescence is characterized by three main aspects: (i) the shrinkage of the T cell repertoire and the accumulation of oligoclonal expansions (megaclones) of memory/effector cells directed toward ubiquitary infectious agents; (ii) the involution of the thymus and the exhaustion of naïve T cells; and (iii) a chronic inflammatory status called inflamm-aging. We present here possible strategies to counteract these main aspects of immunosenescence in humans with particular attention to the reduction of antigenic load by pathogens, such as CMV, and the normalization of intestinal microflora, the possible utilization of IL-7 to reverse thymic involution, the purging of megaclones, the forced expression of CD28 on T lymphocytes, the reduction of inflamm-aging and the administration of nutrients such as vitamin D. Possible drawbacks of all these strategies are discussed. Finally, the complexity of a rejuvenation approach is stressed, with particular attention to the inhibitory role played by the "old microenvironment" on the performance of progenitor cells, the best candidate to counteract the decline in regenerative potential characteristic of organs and tissues from old organisms.

Graves' Disease as an Immune Reconstitution Syndrome in an HIV-1–Positive Patient Commencing Effective Antiretroviral Therapy: Case Report and Literature Review

Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) reduces morbidity and mortality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but it may also alter the clinical course of subclinical opportunistic infections and can even induce autoimmune disease. These atypical presentations are known as immune restoration disease (IRD), immune reconstitution syndrome/immune recovery syndrome (IRS), or immune restoration inflammatory syndrome (IRIS). We report the case of a 27-year-old, HIV-1-positive woman who developed hyperthyroidism attributable to Graves' disease (GD) after commencing potent cART. At the initiation of cART, her CD4 T cell count was 15 cells/microL and plasma HIV RNA 35 000 copies/mL. Her commencement of cART resulted in complete viral suppression and subsequent improvement of the CD4 T-cell count. Three years later, the diagnosis of GD was established based on a typical clinical picture and the results of hormonal and immunological analyses. It coincided with a 58-fold rise of the CD4 T cells. Retrospective analysis of serum samples revealed normal thyroid function and lack of anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO), anti- thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (anti-TSHR), and anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) autoantibodies at the beginning of cART. HLA class II gene examination did not reveal susceptibility for the GD development in this patient. We suggest that GD in our patient was an IRD, and advise this as a possible differential diagnosis in patients presenting with hyperthyroidism on cART. To provide further details relevant to this case, we also review the literature concerning IRD-GD.

Thymic function in severely immunodeficient HIV type 1-infected patients receiving stable and effective antiretroviral therapy

The role of the thymus in long-term immune reconstitution has not been addressed in HIV patients who were severely immunodeficient prior to successful treatment with combination antiretroviral therapy (ART). Adult HIV-1 patients (n = 78) with nadir CD4+ T cell counts <100 T cells/microl, at least 12 months on ART and 6 months of complete viral suppression (<50 HIV RNA copies/ml) were selected from a patient database. The cohort was divided according to current CD4+ T cell counts and patients from the lowest (n = 15) and highest (n = 12) tertiles were studied. Thymic volume was assessed by spiral computed tomography. Naive (CD45RA+CD62L+) and replicating (Ki67+) T cells were quantitated by flow cytometry, T cell receptor excision circles (TREC) were assessed by real-time PCR, and serum IL-7 and testosterone by immunoassay. Patients with low CD4+ T cell counts had smaller thymuses [0(0-5.3) vs. 3.5(0-15.6) cm(3), p = 0.04] and were more likely to have no detectable thymus. They had similar proportions of replicating cells, but fewer naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and less TREC in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells/ml of blood than patients with high CD4+ T cell counts. However, some patients with no detectable thymus had high numbers of naive and TREC-bearing T cells. Thus, the recovery of CD4+ T cells in severely immunodeficient HIV patients with a virological response to ART is probably limited by thymic function. However, the data are consistent with extrathymic T cell production contributing to the naive T cell pool in some patients.

Increased thymic output in HIV-negative patients after antiretroviral therapy

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of antiretroviral therapy on thymic output independent of HIV infection.

METHODS

Thymic output was evaluated by quantifying signal joint T-cell receptor (TCR) recombination excision circles in peripheral blood lymphocytes from HIV-negative patients undergoing prophylactic antiretroviral therapy. Additionally, effects of the HIV protease inhibitor nelfinavir were assessed in vivo on TCR-induced death of murine double-positive thymocytes.

RESULTS

Five out of seven HIV-negative patients undergoing prophylactic antiretroviral therapy exhibited a dramatic increase (1-3 log10) in recent thymic emigrants containing signal joint TCR recombination excision circles while their peripheral T cell compartments remained relatively unaffected. None of the patients developed subsequent HIV infections. Interestingly, nelfinavir did not have significant effects on TCR-induced apoptosis of murine thymocytes in vivo.

CONCLUSION

Antiretroviral therapy augments thymic output independent of HIV. Furthermore, nelfinavir does not dramatically affect TCR-induced thymocyte death in mice, thus central tolerance remains intact.

Autoimmunity, anergy, lentiviral immunity and disease

Autoimmune antibodies and autoimmune responses have been characterized in both human HIV infection and the rhesus macaque (RM) non-human primate model of SIV infection and reasoned to contribute to the pathogenesis of AIDS. Many theories for the induction and maintenance of such responses have been entertained including molecular mimicry between HIV proteins and self molecules, CD4+ T cell loss accompanied by loss of normal immune regulation that dictate self-non-self-reactivity, defective negative/positive selection of T cells to name a few. The precise mechanisms that lead to such immune dysfunction is difficult to study in humans. Our lab has been studying such autoimmune responses in both SIV-infected RM and sooty mangabeys (SM), a species from Africa that are naturally infected with SIV but do not display any detectable signs of immune deficiency or autoimmunity. We submit that this model is an important model since it allows for narrowing down those mechanisms and pathways that are a result of lentiviral infection per se from those that specifically cause disease including autoimmunity. During the course of these studies, we have ruled out a role for plasma and cellular viral loads, anti-viral humoral responses and a variety of cell signaling pathways. We have identified select pathways that appear to play roles in the pathogenesis of lentiviral infection and disease. These include pathways involved in innocent bystander killing by apoptosis of CD4+ T cells, role for differential regulation of the cell cycle, and a role for distinct host proteins that get incorporated by the virions as they are assembled and either bud out of CD4+ T cells or exit the cells in the form of multi-vesicular endosomal particles from monocytes/macrophages from SIV-infected disease susceptible RM and disease-resistant SM. We present our current working model and hypotheses that are designed to elucidate differences that are responsible for such distinct outcomes of lentiviral infection, autoimmunity and disease. We believe that such findings have important implications for the design of vaccines against human HIV infection.

Opsoclonus-myoclonus in an HIV-infected child on antiretroviral therapy--possible immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome

The exact immunopathogenesis and neuroanatomical localization of opsoclonus-myoclonus ataxia syndrome remains unclear. We describe a 1 year 9 month old girl who, shortly after commencement of highly active antiretroviral therapy developed opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome and subsequently died of disseminated cytomegalovirus infection. We postulate on the etiological factors that may have played a role in the disease pathogenesis of the patient's opsoclonus-myoclonus ataxia. Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome was considered the most likely because of the initial CD4 depletion and the onset of symptoms shortly after initiation of antiretroviral therapy. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) proved helpful by localizing the area of dysfunction to the cerebellar vermis.

CD30 antigen and multiple sclerosis: CD30, an important costimulatory molecule and marker of a regulatory subpopulation of dendritic cells, is involved in the maintenance of the physiological balance between TH1/TH2 immune responses and tolerance. The role of IFNbeta-1a in the treatment of multiple sclerosis

OBJECTIVES

The immunological effect of CD30 on dendritic cells (DCs) was examined in a comparative study of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). The patients were divided into two groups on the basis of interferon (IFN)beta-1a treatment: IFNbeta-1a-treated patients and untreated patients. We have already shown that CD30 is a marker of cells involved in the regulation of the balance between TH1 and TH2 immune responses and so the aim of this study was to confirm this role in DCs and, consequently, to clarify the immunopathological mechanisms of MS and the causes of immunosuppressive drug failure.

METHODS

We studied network interactions between soluble (s) CD30 and TH1/TH2 cytokines in the supernatants of CD14+-derived immature DC (IDC) and DC cultures from treated and untreated patients. Network interactions between the sCD30 and cytokines in IDC and DC supernatants were also evaluated in relation to TH1/TH2 cytokine serum levels.

RESULTS

Our overall results show that CD30 is expressed on IDCs and DCs, indicating an immunological role in resting and activated physiological conditions. This role would appear to be the regulation of the resting and activated physiological balance between the TH1/TH2 immune functions as abnormal increases in sCD30 levels result in impaired regulation. Further studies are undoubtedly required to clarify this situation. IFNbeta-1a treatment was found to determine a fall in sCD30 levels, leading to the restoration of the normal functional selection of IDCs from progenitor cells and the regulation of the TH1/TH2 network balance. However, IFNbeta-1a treatment may also be responsible for the in vivo suppression of CD30-mediated TH1-DC functions in immune activation. TH1-DC functions are involved in the induction of T-regulatory cells for the physiological deletion of self-aggressive cells.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that CD30 is an important costimulatory molecule and marker of a regulatory subpopulation of DCs which induces and modulates immune cells involved in the maintenance of the physiological balance between TH1/TH2 immune responses and tolerance. Elucidating the mechanisms restoring DC and T-regulatory cell function could lead to more effective therapy and strategies for the prevention and treatment of immunopathological conditions such as autoimmunity, transplant rejection, allergy and tumors.

Illness of immune reconstitution: Recognition and management

Some individuals who initiate highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) develop new or worsening opportunistic infections or malignancies despite improvements in surrogate markers of HIV-1 infection. These events of paradoxical clinical worsening, also known as immune reconstitution syndromes (IRS), are increased in individuals with prior opportunistic infections or low CD4+ T-cell nadirs. They are thought to result from reconstitution of the immune system's ability to recognize pathogens or tumor antigens that were previously present, but clinically asymptomatic. There is no consensus regarding the diagnostic criteria or pathogenesis of IRS. Knowledge of their presentation and treatment is largely based on case reports. With the introduction of HAART into resource-limited settings, it is likely that significantly more and distinct forms of IRS will be observed. Prospective studies of the incidence and treatment of IRS in multiple settings are critical to better understand their pathogenesis and optimal management.

Immune restoration disease after antiretroviral therapy

Suppression of HIV replication by highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) often restores protective pathogen-specific immune responses, but in some patients the restored immune response is immunopathological and causes disease [immune restoration disease (IRD)]. Infections by mycobacteria, cryptococci, herpesviruses, hepatitis B and C virus, and JC virus are the most common pathogens associated with infectious IRD. Sarcoid IRD and autoimmune IRD occur less commonly. Infectious IRD presenting during the first 3 months of therapy appears to reflect an immune response against an active (often quiescent) infection by opportunistic pathogens whereas late IRD may result from an immune response against the antigens of non-viable pathogens. Data on the immunopathogenesis of IRD is limited but it suggests that immunopathogenic mechanisms are determined by the pathogen. For example, mycobacterial IRD is associated with delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to mycobacterial antigens whereas there is evidence of a CD8 T-cell response in herpesvirus IRD. Furthermore, the association of different cytokine gene polymorphisms with mycobacterial or herpesvirus IRD provides evidence of different pathogenic mechanisms as well as indicating a genetic susceptibility to IRD. Differentiation of IRD from an opportunistic infection is important because IRD indicates a successful, albeit undesirable, effect of HAART. It is also important to differentiate IRD from drug toxicity to avoid unnecessary cessation of HAART. The management of IRD often requires the use of anti-microbial and/or anti-inflammatory therapy. Investigation of strategies to prevent IRD is a priority, particularly in developing countries, and requires the development of risk assessment methods and diagnostic criteria.