Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia

HIV False-Positive Test in the Setting of CD4 Lymphocytopenia

In 2016, we implemented a non-targeted Emergency Department (ED)-based HIV screening program at our academic medical center following revised CDC guidelines utilizing the Abbott Alinity 4th generation HIV-1/2 antigen (Ag)/antibody (Ab) immunoassay (Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL). Following the CDC algorithm, after reactive fourth-generation testing, HIV-1/2 Ab testing is conducted. Patients undergoing acute seroconversion (acutes) may express p24 Ag but have a negative confirmatory Ab test. Acutes have the same laboratory signature during the ED encounter as those that are false positive (False +), and the two patient groups are denoted as "equivocals" until viral load testing specifies a definitive HIV status. Among False + patients (Ab/Ag positive, Ab negative, viral load undetectable), there have been limited studies on those also demonstrating a reduction in CD4+ count, an uncommon phenomenon known as "idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia." We review a patient with a reactive fourth-generation HIV Ab/p24 Ag test on two separate occasions. Despite lymphopenia with a reduced CD4 count, his symptoms resolved, and an RNA PCR test did not detect any presence of HIV (False +). This patient was unique as False + patient with p24 Ag reactive, as well as a coincidental low CD4 count in the absence of HIV infection. A low CD4 count is often a sign of significant HIV infection.

Idiopathic CD4+ T lymphocytopenia: A case report

Idiopathic CD4+ T lymphocytopenia (ICL) is a very rare immunodeficiency syndrome with an unexplained depletion of CD4+ T lymphocytes and no evidence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. Here we report a 29-year-old male patient who had severe ulcerative colitis with low level CD4+ count of 254 cells/mm³, and had no evidence of HIV or Human T cell Lymphotrophic virus type I or II infections. He had recurrent Candidiasis infection and his CD4 count was just 53 cells/mm³ after 3 months. The cause for the decline of CD4 T lymphocytes was unknown.

Criptococosis y linfocitopenia T CD4 idiopática: Reporte de un caso

La linfocitopenia T CD4 idiopática (LCI) es un síndrome clínico inusual que se caracteriza por un déficit de células T CD4+ circulantes en ausencia de infección por VIH u otra condición de inmunosupresión. Los pacientes con dicha enfermedad pueden presentarse asintomáticos o con infecciones oportunistas, las más frecuentes son por criptococo, micobacterias o virales como herpes zoster. Presentamos el caso de un hombre de 32 años, sin antecedentes, en quien se descartó infección por retrovirus, con recuento de linfocitos T CD4+ menor a 300 células/m3; se diagnosticó LCI posterior al diagnóstico de criptococomas cerebrales mediante hallazgos imagenológicos los cuales fueron congruentes con estudios microbiológicos.

Idiopathic CD4 Lymphocytopenia: Current Insights

Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia is a condition characterized by low CD4 counts. It is rare and most of the information about this illness comes from case reports. Presentation is usually in the 4th decade of life with opportunistic infections, autoimmune disease or neoplasia. The pathophysiology of this condition is not well understood. Management revolves around treatment of the presenting condition and close follow-up of these patients. This review presents a narrative summary of the current literature on idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia.

Flow Cytometry as a Diagnostic Tool in Primary and Secondary Immune Deficiencies

Flow cytometry is an incredibly powerful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of primary and secondary immune deficiencies. Assay design and setup involves a methodological consideration of specimen collection, marker and fluorochrome selection, antibody titration, instrumentation, compensation, gating, reference range development, and cross validation. Commonly used analyses for lymphocytes are the lymphocyte subset, T-cell subset, B-cell and T-cell naive/memory, double-negative T-cell, and plasmablast panels. Flow cytometry has direct clinical applicability to the workup of severe forms of primary immune deficiency disorders and is used diagnostically and for therapeutic monitoring in the context of secondary immune deficiency disorders.

Isolated renal mucormycosis in a patient with Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia

Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia (ICL) is characterised by a low CD4 +lymphocyte count in the absence of HIV or other underlying aetiologies. We report a case of a 17-year-old girl with ICL with autoimmune hepatitis who developed isolated renal mucormycosis, which, to our knowledge, is the first reported case described in literature. Combination therapy with antifungals and surgical resection was done, and the patient improved. This case report illustrates the importance of timely multidisciplinary approach to recognise this highly fatal disease at an early stage.

Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia: Pathogenesis, etiologies, clinical presentations and treatment strategies

BACKGROUND

Idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia (ICL) is a rare condition characterized by an unexplained deficit of circulating CD4 T cells leading to increased risk of serious opportunistic infections. The pathogenesis, etiology, clinical presentation, and best treatment options remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the clinical presentation, treatment strategies, and outcome of patients with ICL seen in a single referral center.

METHODS

In a retrospective study, from January 1993 to January 2014, the demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, and treatments of patients diagnosed with ICL were reviewed.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients (14 female [58%] and 10 male [42%]) were evaluated. The mean age was 45 ± 17.6 years (range 7-76 years). Mean CD4 and CD8 T-cell counts at the time of diagnosis were 119 ± 84/mm³ (range 4-294/mm³) and 219 ± 258/mm³ (range 7-630/mm³), respectively. Seventeen patients (71%) had opportunistic infections, 4 (17%) had malignancies, and 3 (13%) had unexplained demyelinating disease and neurologic problems. Most patients had normal levels of immunoglobulins. Thirteen patients had abnormally low to absent response to phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A, and antigens (candida and tetanus). Three patients had resolution of warts and 1 had mycobacterial lung infection on interleukin-2 with increases in CD4 count. The 11 patients on trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole had no further hospital admissions for infections.

CONCLUSION

The pathogenesis of ICL remains unclear. Although only some patients are healthy, most patients present with opportunistic infections. There is no known standard treatment aside from prophylactic antibiotics.

Osteomyelitis due to multiple rare infections in a patient with idiopathic CD4 lymphocytopenia

A 26-year-old male patient presented with features suggestive of osteomyelitis involving the entire left femur, hip joint and knee joint. Culture from the debrided tissue grew Acinetobacter spp. and he was treated with sensitivity based antibiotics but the symptoms did not resolve. The synovial biopsy showed multinucleated giant cells and acid fast bacilli on Ziehl Neelsen stain. Cartridge based nucleic acid amplification test (GeneXpert) was negative. The Mycobacteria growth indicator tube culture was found to be positive for Mycobacterium abscessus. The patient was started on imipenem, amikacin and macrolide based therapy. There was partial response initially but the patient worsened again. A girdle stone arthroplasty with cemented nail (with tobramycin) insertion after debridement of the infected tissue was done. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) mount from the debridement sample was found to be positive for aseptate hyphae suggestive of mucormycosis. He was treated with liposomal amphotericin B. He was evaluated for immunodeficiency in view of multiple atypical infections and was found to have a low CD4 count. The patient was discharged on amikacin, azithromycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and posaconazole. Follow up showed considerable resolution both clinically and radiologically. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of osteomyelitis with co-infection of Acinetobacter spp., M. abscessus and mucormycetes. We report this case to highlight the possibility of multiple rare infections in patients with immunodeficiency. Also, atypical complicated bone infections, such as Mycobacterium abscessus and mucormycetes might require combined medical and surgical treatment.