Racial and ethnic disparities in early mortality among patients with inborn errors of immunity

BACKGROUND

Racial and ethnic disparities in life expectancy in the United States have been widely documented. To date, there remains a paucity of similar data in patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEIs).

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to examine racial and ethnic differences in mortality due to an IEI in the United States.

METHODS

We analyzed National Center for Health Statistics national mortality data from 2003 to 2018. We quantified age-adjusted death rate and age-specific death rate as a result of an IEI for each major racial and ethnic group in the United States and examined the association of race and ethnicity with death at a younger age.

RESULTS

From 2003 to 2018, IEIs were reported as the underlying or contributing cause of death in 14,970 individuals nationwide. The age-adjusted death rate was highest among Black patients (4.25 per 1,000,000 person years), compared with 2.01, 1.71, 1.50, and 0.92 per 1,000,000 person years for White, American Indian/Alaska Native, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander patients, respectively. The odds of death before age 65 years were greatest among Black patients (odds ratio [OR] = 5.15 [95% CI = 4.61-5.76]), followed by American Indian/Alaska Native patients (OR = 3.58 [95% CI = 2.30-5.82]), compared with White patients. The odds of death before age 24 years were greater among Hispanic patients than among non-Hispanic patients (OR = 3.60 [95% CI = 3.08-4.18]).

CONCLUSION

Our study highlights racial and ethnic disparities in mortality due to an IEI and the urgent need to further identify and systematically remove barriers in care for historically marginalized patients with IEIs.

Researchers tackle vexing side effects of potent cancer drugs

Wider use of checkpoint inhibitor therapy spurs efforts to predict and treat immune complications.

Long-term follow-up of IPEX syndrome patients after different therapeutic strategies: An international multicenter retrospective study

Background

Immunodysregulation polyendocrinopathy enteropathy x-linked(IPEX) syndromeis a monogenic autoimmune disease caused by FOXP3 mutations. Because it is a rare disease, the natural history and response to treatments, including allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and immunosuppression (IS), have not been thoroughly examined.

Objective

This analysis sought to evaluate disease onset, progression, and long-term outcome of the 2 main treatments in long-term IPEX survivors.

Methods

Clinical histories of 96 patients with a genetically proven IPEX syndrome were collected from 38 institutions worldwide and retrospectively analyzed. To investigate possible factors suitable to predict the outcome, an organ involvement (OI) scoring system was developed.

Results

We confirm neonatal onset with enteropathy, type 1 diabetes, and eczema. In addition, we found less common manifestations in delayed onset patients or during disease evolution. There is no correlation between the site of mutation and the disease course or outcome, and the same genotype can present with variable phenotypes. HSCT patients (n = 58) had a median follow-up of 2.7 years (range, 1 week-15 years). Patients receiving chronic IS (n = 34) had a median follow-up of 4 years (range, 2 months-25 years). The overall survival after HSCT was 73.2% (95% CI, 59.4-83.0) and after IS was 65.1% (95% CI, 62.8-95.8). The pretreatment OI score was the only significant predictor of overall survival after transplant (P = .035) but not under IS.

Conclusions

Patients receiving chronic IS were hampered by disease recurrence or complications, impacting long-term disease-free survival. When performed in patients with a low OI score, HSCT resulted in disease resolution with better quality of life, independent of age, donor source, or conditioning regimen.

Immune dysfunction prior to Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia is a determinant of long-term mortality

PURPOSE

The clinical implications for patients who survive serious infections are not well understood. It has been hypothesized that the excess mortality for survivors of sepsis observed in epidemiological studies is due to increased vulnerability to subsequent infections. We undertook this study to identify characteristics of patients who are at high risk for death after surviving a common type of blood-stream infection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

At a single academic medical center, 237 patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia admitted during a three-year period were retrospectively identified. The primary outcomes were 30-day and 31 to 90-day mortality after the first positive blood culture. The primary predictor variable of interest was clinical immune dysfunction prior to bacteremia.

RESULTS

The 30-day mortality was not significantly different for patients with and without prior immune dysfunction. However, during days 31 to 90, 11 patients (20%) with prior immune dysfunction compared to 10 patients (8.6%) without prior immune dysfunction died (OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.03-6.53, p = 0.04). In a Cox-proportional hazard model controlling for age, there was a significant association between prior immune dysfunction and greater 31 to 90 day mortality (HR 2.44, 95% CI 1.01-5.90, p = 0.05) and a non-significant trend towards occurrence of subsequent infections and greater 31 to 90 day mortality (HR 2.12, 95% CI 0.89-5.07, p = 0.09).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with prior immune dysfunction are at high risk for death 31 to 90 days, but not <30 days, after S. aureus bacteremia. Further investigation is needed to determine if this finding is due to poor prognosis of chronic disease or increased vulnerability to subsequent infections.

Differences in mortality based on worsening ratio of partial pressure of oxygen to fraction of inspired oxygen corrected for immune system status and respiratory support

OBJECTIVE

To define the relationship between worsening oxygenation status (worst PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio in the first 24 hours after intensive care unit admission) and mortality in immunosuppressed and immunocompetent ICU patients in the presence and absence of mechanical ventilation.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Data were extracted from the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Adult Patient Database.

PARTICIPANTS

Adult patients admitted to 129 ICUs in Australasia, 2000-2010.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

In hospital and ICU mortality; relationship between mortality and declining PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio by ventilation status and immune status.

RESULTS

457 750 patient records were analysed. Worsening oxygenation status was associated with increasing mortality in all groups. Higher mortality was seen in immunosuppressed patients than immunocompetent patients. After multivariate analysis, in mechanically ventilated patients, declining PaO(2)/FiO(2) ratio in the first 24 hours of ICU admission was associated with a more rapidly rising mortality rate in immunosuppressed patients than non-immunosuppressed patients. Immunosuppression did not affect the relationship between oxygenation status and mortality in non-ventilated patients.

CONCLUSION

Immunosuppression increases the risk of mortality with progressively worsening oxygenation status, but only in the presence of mechanical ventilation. Further research into the impact of mechanical ventilation in immunosuppressed patients is required.

How I treat hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a syndrome of pathologic immune activation, occurring as either a familial disorder or a sporadic condition, in association with a variety of triggers. This immune dysregulatory disorder is prominently associated with cytopenias and a unique combination of clinical signs and symptoms of extreme inflammation. Prompt initiation of immunochemotherapy is essential for survival, but timely diagnosis may be challenging because of the rarity of HLH, its variable presentation, and the time required to perform diagnostic testing. Therapy is complicated by dynamic clinical course, high risk of treatment-related morbidity, and disease recurrence. Here, we review the clinical manifestations and patterns of HLH and describe our approach to the diagnosis and therapy for this elusive and potentially lethal condition.

Symptomatic parainfluenza virus infections in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Parainfluenza virus (PIV) infections cause significant mortality in adults undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Children are more prone to PIV infections than adults; however, data on the epidemiology of these infections in children undergoing HSCT are limited. This study examined the incidence of symptomatic PIV infections, risk factors for lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), and the impact on mortality after pediatric HSCT. A total of 1028 children who underwent HSCT between 1995 and 2009 were studied. PIV infections were detected in 46 of the 738 patients tested for respiratory infection (6.2%). PIV infection was the most common symptomatic respiratory viral infection in this population. On multivariate logistic regression analysis, receipt of an allogeneic transplant (P < .0001) and total body irradiation-based conditioning (P < .0001) were associated with increased risk of acquiring symptomatic PIV infection. Of the 46 HSCT patients with PIV infection, 18 (39%) had an LRTI. LRTI was associated with PIV infection in the first 100 days post-HSCT (P = .006), use of steroids (P = .035), and absolute leukocyte count (ALC) <100 cells/μL at the onset of infection (P < .0001). An ALC of <500 cells/μL was associated with prolonged viral shedding (P = .045). Six (13%) HSCT patients died of PIV infection. Mortality was associated with African-American ethnicity (P = .013), LRTI (P = .002), use of steroids (P < .0001), mechanical ventilation (P < .0001), and ALC <100 cells/μL at the onset of infection (P = .01). PIV infection causes significant morbidity and mortality in children undergoing HSCT.

Predictive factors for successful laparoscopic splenectomy in immune thrombocytopenic purpura: study of clinical and laboratory data

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic splenectomy (LS) offers better short-term results than open surgery for the treatment of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), but long-term follow-up is required to ensure its efficacy. The remission rate after splenectomy ranges from 49 to 86% and the factors that predict a successful response to surgical management have not been clearly defined. The goal of this study was to determine the preoperative factors that predict a successful outcome following LS.

METHODS

From February 1993 to December 2003, LS was consecutively performed in a series of 119 nonselected patients diagnosed with ITP (34 men and 85 women; mean age, 41 years), and clinical results were prospectively recorded. Postoperative follow-up was based on clinical records, follow-up data provided by the referring hematologist, and a phone interview with the patient and/or relative. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for clinical preoperative variables to identify predictive factors of success following LS.

RESULTS

Over a mean period of 33 months, 103 patients (84%) were available for follow-up with a remission rate of 89% (92 patients, 77 with complete remission with platelet count > 150,000). Eleven patients did not respond to surgery (platelet count < 50,000). Mortality during follow-up was 2.5% (two cases not related to hematological pathology and one case without response to splenectomy). Preoperative clinical variables evaluated to identify predictive factors of response to surgery were sex, age, treatment (corticoids alone or associated with Ig or chemotherapy), other immune pathology, duration of disease, and preoperative platelet count. In a subgroup of 52 patients, we also evaluated the type of autoantibodies and corticoid doses required to maintain a platelet count > 50,000. Multivariate analysis showed that none of the variables evaluated could be considered as predictive factors of response to LS due to the high standard error.

CONCLUSION

Long-term clinical results show that LS is a safe and effective therapy for ITP. However, a higher number of nonresponders is needed to determine which variables predict response to LS for ITP.

Lymphoid interstitial pneumonia: clinical features, associations and prognosis

Lymphoid interstitial pneumonia (LIP) is rare and its clinical course incompletely described. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical features, associations and prognosis of surgical lung biopsy-proven LIP. The study group consisted of 15 subjects encountered over a 14-yr period. The majority of subjects were females (n = 11) and the mean age was 47 yrs (range 17-78 yrs). Underlying systemic immune disorders were frequent, including Sjögren's syndrome (n = 8), rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyositis, common variable immunodeficiency and dysproteinaemia. Only three patients were classified as "idiopathic". Presenting symptoms were dominated by dyspnoea and cough. Restrictive physiology, reduced diffusion capacity (62.5+/-18.4% predicted) and bronchoalveolar lavage lymphocytosis (30.5+/-29.1% pred) were noted. Thirteen patients received corticosteroid therapy. Of the nine whose response could be assessed, four showed clinical improvement and four were stable. Overall, median survival was 11.5 yrs. Of the seven patients who died, respiratory problems were the primary cause of death in three. Conversion to lymphoma was not identified. In conclusion, histopathological lymphoid interstitial pneumonia is commonly associated with immune system dysregulation, with idiopathic lymphoid interstitial pneumonia being extremely rare. Clinical stability or improvement with corticosteroids can be expected; however, survival remains impaired.

Rethinking gender differences in health: why we need to integrate social and biological perspectives

The complexity of gender differences in health (i.e., men's lower life expectancy and women's greater morbidity) extends beyond notions of either social or biological disadvantage. Gaps remain in understanding the antecedents of such differences and the issues this paradox raises regarding the connections between social and biological processes. Our goals in this analytic essay are to make the case that gender differences in health matter and that understanding these differences requires an explanation of why rational people are not effective in making health a priority in their everyday lives. We describe some salient gender health differences in cardiovascular disease, immune function and disorders, and depression and indicate why neither social nor biological perspectives alone are sufficient to account for them. We consider the limitations of current models of socioeconomic and racial/ethnic health disparities to explain the puzzling gender differences in health. Finally, we discuss constrained choice, a key issue that is missing in the current understanding of these gender differences, and call on the social science community to work with biomedical researchers on the interdisciplinary work required to address the paradoxical differences in men's and women's health.

Association of immunological disorders in lethal side effect of NSAIDs on beta-glucan-administered mice

(1-->3)-beta-D-Glucan (beta-glucan) is a biological response modifier that regulates host immune response. We have found that the combination of a beta-glucan and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), indomethacin (IND), induced lethal toxicity in mice [Yoshioka et al. (1998) FEMS Immunol. Med. Microbiol., 21, 171-179]. This study was undertaken to analyze the mechanism of the lethal side effect. Combination of a beta-glucan and IND increased the number of leukocytes, especially macrophages and neutrophils, in various organs and these cells were activated. The activated state of these cells was supported by the enhanced production of interferon-gamma in the presence of IND in vitro culture of the peritoneal exudate cells. Intestinal bacterial flora was translocated into the peritoneal cavity in these mice to cause peritonitis. Comparing the toxicity of various NSAIDs, nabumetone, a partially cyclooxygenase-2-selective NSAID with weaker toxicity to the gastrointestinal tract, did not exhibit a lethal side effect. These facts strongly suggested that gastrointestinal damage by NSAIDs was more severe in beta-glucan-administered mice, resulting in peritonitis by enteric bacteria and leading to death.

Etiology and outcome of hydrops fetalis

OBJECTIVES

To identify the etiology and pregnancy outcome of hydrops fetalis in a cohort of pregnancies referred to a tertiary maternal fetal medicine center in the UK. These data allow the review of a large series of pregnancies affected by hydrops fetalis and emphasize the importance of investigation and then treatment of individual cases. This provides parents with improved information and especially specific prognostic information.

METHODS

A retrospective review of 63 consecutive cases of hydrops fetalis managed between September 1996 and March 1999.

RESULTS

Of the pregnancies, 12.7% (n = 8) were associated with an 'immune' etiology. Of these, 62.5% (n = 5) had fetal anemia due to anti-D, 25% (n = 2) anti-Kell and 12.5% (n = 1) anti-c antibodies. The remaining 55 cases (87.3%) had a non-immune cause. Eight (14.5%) were due to human parvovirus B19 infection. Fourteen cases (25.5%) were associated with aneuploidy and, in four (7.3%), a primary hydrothorax was the cause of the non-immune hydrops fetalis. A cardiac cause was found in five (9.1%) cases. Three of these had supraventricular tachycardia and one had congenital complete heart block. Cystic hygroma was associated with hydrops fetalis in six cases. Twin-twin transfusion syndrome was the cause for hydrops in two cases. Massive transplacental hemorrhage was identified in one case. Fetal akinesia and muscular dystrophy caused hydrops in one case each. In 14.5% (8/55) of cases no obvious cause was identified and these were classified as 'idiopathic'. Three other cases could not be classified because parents declined investigations (unclassified). In the pregnancies with non-immune hydrops fetalis, the outcome was favorable in 27.3% (15/55) of cases.

CONCLUSION

The prognosis of hydrops fetalis differs markedly between different etiological groups. Etiologies range from treatable causes with a good outcome and probably no long-term side-effects (as in case of parvovirus B19), to others which are incompatible with life or are associated with considerable perinatal morbidity and mortality.

[Immuno-hemolytic transfusion reactions. IV. Analysis, risks and prevention]

The immunological risk of red blood cell transfusions now seems higher than the viral risk. According to studies, severe accidents due to blood incompatibility occur with a frequency estimated at 1/6000 to 1/29000; despite technical progress, the risk does not significantly diminish. The majority of accidents do not originate from laboratory or production stages but from defects in the application of clinical procedures. Preventive measures are based on (i) the elaboration of clinical guidelines, (ii) the compliance to strict rules in carrying out bedside ABO check, and (iii) the realization and interpretation of antibody screening tests. The implementation of quality assurance systems and of the epidemiological surveillance system, which define the basis of a prevention policy, leads to the expectation of an improvement of transfusion safety.

Immune-mediated complications in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes--clinical and cytogenetic features

It has been recognized in recent years that some patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) develop immune-mediated complications (IMC), but little is known about the correlations to MDS-specific disease features. In a retrospective study of 82 MDS patients, we identified 10 (12%) with IMC (group A) and compared them to the remaining 72 cases (group B). Group A consisted of 5 patients with biopsy-verified skin vasculitis and 1 case each with temporal arteritis/polymyalgia rheumatica, necrotising panniculitis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, autoimmune thrombocytopenia, and Sweet's syndrome. Survival times, sex ratio and distribution of MDS subtypes were similar in the two groups. The patients in group A were younger than those in group B (median 66 vs. 76 years, p < 0.01). Four patients (40%) in group A had a history of previous genotoxic therapy for malignant disorders. The bone marrow karyotype was evaluated in 62 patients. Clonal chromosomal abnormalities were found more frequently in Group A than in group B (8/9 vs. 26/53, p = 0.03), and complex karyotypes, i.e., three or more aberrations, were also observed to be more common in group A (3/9 vs. 8/53). The results indicate that IMC preferentially develop in patients with secondary MDS, in younger MDS cases, and in patients with cytogenetic abnormalities.

A survey of nosocomial infections and their influence on hospital mortality rates

Nosocomial infections play an important role in contributing to hospital mortality. In order to obtain a large sample a survey was conducted between 1978 and 1989 of more than 66,000 patients in German acute care hospitals. The data were used to assess the influence of nosocomial infections on mortality rates. Hospital infections were more frequent in female patients, but mortality with or without nosocomial infection was higher in male patients. Nosocomial infections increased hospital mortality threefold when raw numbers were used. Controlling for age and sex, the existence of at least one nosocomial infection (diagnosed at the second or a later day of hospital stay) increased hospital mortality by a factor of two. The influence of nosocomial infections was shown to be small for some diseases, such as malignancy, but was greater for others such as metabolic and immunological diseases or trauma. In the case of trauma, nosocomial infections increased hospital mortality rates by a factor of three even after controlling for age.

Accuracy of admission and pre-autopsy clinical diagnoses in the light of autopsy findings: a study conducted in Budapest

Pre- and post-autopsy diagnoses of underlying cause of death were compared in consecutive autopsies on persons aged 30 to 80 years; 1000 from each of two pathology departments in Budapest. Data on admission diagnoses and on contributory causes of death were also analysed. At autopsy, the percentages of deaths by underlying cause were neoplasms (any site) 34.9%, diseases of the circulatory system 40.2%, digestive system 13.8%, endocrine, nutritional, metabolic or immune systems 2.7%, and respiratory system 2.2%. For these five disease groupings, the percentages of cases diagnosed clinically as the underlying cause of death which were confirmed at autopsy were, respectively, 90.9%, 84.0%, 82.9%, 55.2% and 32.5%. Although, out of 697 cases with an autopsy diagnosis of neoplasia as the underlying cause, there were only 61 (8.8%) where neoplasms were not diagnosed clinically as the underlying cause, this conceals the fact that in 130 (18.7%) the two diagnoses differed as to the site of the primary neoplasm (ICD 3 digit code). The fact that 43% of post-mortem diagnoses (ICD major category) of underlying cause are missed on admission, and that 19% are missed clinically, indicates that improved clinical diagnostic procedures have not diminished the need for high autopsy rates. Morbid anatomy needs to be better resourced.

Lymphopenia induced by acute bacterial infections in the elderly: a sign of age-related immune dysfunction of major prognostic significance

These studies were undertaken to investigate the effect of acute bacterial infections on the absolute number of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in an elderly population and to evaluate the prognostic significance of a decreased number of PBL in critically ill aged patients. The results show that a significant lymphopenia develops in elderly patients during the course of an acute bacterial infection whereas the same type of acute illness has no effect on the PBL count of younger subjects. The lymphopenia is not related to a particular localization of the infection nor to the type of bacterial pathogen. The prognosis of the bacterial infection is closely linked to the severity of the lymphocyte depletion and its outcome can nearly be predicted by monitoring the variation of the number of circulating lymphocytes during the early course of the disease.

Longevity and mortality in Down's syndrome

The life span of individuals with DS has gradually increased since the 1920s. The DS individual now has an average life expectancy of 35 years. Despite advances in the health care of the retarded and improvements in the quality of institutional care, the overall mortality rate remains elevated by five-fold. Specific mortality rates from respiratory diseases (particularly pneumonia), infectious diseases, congenital heart disease, leukaemia and neurological disorders are still substantially increased. Disorders of immunological functioning, particularly T-cell mediated, appear related to this increased vulnerability, although further research is necessary. The periods of highest risk are during infancy, when congenital heart disease, leukaemia and respiratory diseases are most lethal, and late adulthood, when Alzheimer-type dementia and declining immunological function appear to be significant factors.