Tocilizumab as a Potential Adjunctive Therapy to Corticosteroids in Cryptococcal Post-infectious Inflammatory Response Syndrome (PIIRS): a Report of Two Cases.

PURPOSE: Non-HIV cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (CM) in previously healthy individuals is often complicated by a post-infectious inflammatory response syndrome (c-PIIRS) characterized by neurologic deterioration after appropriate antifungal therapy with sterilization of CSF fungal cultures. c-PIIRS results from an excessive inflammatory response to fungal antigens released during fungal lysis, mediated by IFN-γ, IL-6, and activated T-helper cells, leading to immune-mediated host damage that responds to pulse-corticosteroid taper therapy (PCT). Typically, oral steroids may take up to a year to taper, and occasionally, patients will be refractory to steroid therapy or may demonstrate high-risk lesions such as those involving intracranial arteries. Also, patients can have problematic side effects from prolonged corticosteroids. Hence, appropriate adjunctive agents are needed to reduce corticosteroid doses in the treatment of c-PIIRS. Due to a possible role of IL-6 in pathogenesis, IL-6 receptor blockade by tocilizumab may be useful in the treatment of c-PIIRS. METHODS: Two previously healthy patients with non-HIV cPIIRS were seen at the NIH. Due to concerns for intracranial vascular rupture in an area of inflammation (Patient 1) and intractable symptoms on high-dose oral corticosteroids (Patient 2) with evidence of persistent CSF inflammation, patients were treated with 4-8 mg/kg tocilizumab every 2 weeks while maintained on a constant dose of prednisone. RESULTS: Two patients exhibited rapid immunological improvement following treatment with tocilizumab. Patient 1 remained vascularly stable, and Patient 2 had near resolution of headaches with improvement in mental status as evidenced by improved MOCA score. The two had improved CSF inflammatory parameters and no significant side effects. Both CSF cultures remained negative throughout treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Tocilizumab may be a safe adjunctive treatment for CM-related PIIRS suggesting further study.

Outcomes in Previously Healthy Cryptococcal Meningoencephalitis Patients Treated With Pulse Taper Corticosteroids for Post-infectious Inflammatory Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (CM) is a major cause of mortality in immunosuppressed patients and previously healthy individuals. In the latter, a post-infectious inflammatory response syndrome (PIIRS) is associated with poor clinical response despite antifungal therapy and negative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures. Data on effective treatment are limited. METHODS: Between March 2015 and March 2020, 15 consecutive previously healthy patients with CM and PIIRS were treated with adjunctive pulse corticosteroid taper therapy (PCT) consisting of intravenous methylprednisolone 1 gm daily for 1 week followed by oral prednisone 1 mg/kg/day, tapered based on clinical and radiological response plus oral fluconazole. Montreal cognitive assessments (MOCA), Karnofsky performance scores, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scanning, ophthalmic and audiologic exams, and CSF parameters including cellular and soluble immune responses were compared at PIIRS diagnosis and after methylprednisolone completion. RESULTS: The median time from antifungal treatment to steroid initiation was 6 weeks. The most common symptoms at PIIRS diagnosis were altered mental status and vision changes. All patients demonstrated significant improvements in MOCA and Karnofsky scores at 1 month (P < .0003), which was accompanied by improvements in CSF glucose, white blood cell (WBC) count, protein, cellular and soluble inflammatory markers 1 week after receiving corticosteroids (CS) (P < .003). All patients with papilledema and visual field deficits also exhibited improvement (P < .0005). Five out of 7 patients who underwent audiological testing demonstrated hearing improvement. Brain MRI showed significant improvement of radiological findings (P = .001). CSF cultures remained negative. CONCLUSIONS: PCT in this small cohort of PIIRS was associated with improvements in CM-related complications with minimal toxicity in the acute setting.

Immunophenotypic characterization of CSF B cells in virus-associated neuroinflammatory diseases.

Intrathecal antibody synthesis is a well-documented phenomenon in infectious neurological diseases as well as in demyelinating diseases, but little is known about the role of B cells in the central nervous systems. We examined B cell and T cell immunophenotypes in CSF of patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) compared to healthy normal donors and subjects with the other chronic virus infection and/or neuroinflammatory diseases including HIV infection, multiple sclerosis (MS) and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Antibody secreting B cells (ASCs) were elevated in HAM/TSP patients, which was significantly correlated with intrathecal HTLV-1-specific antibody responses. High frequency of ASCs was also detected in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). While RRMS patients showed significant correlations between ASCs and memory follicular helper CD4+ T cells, CD4+CD25+ T cells were elevated in HAM/TSP patients, which were significantly correlated with ASCs and HTLV-1 proviral load. These results highlight the importance of the B cell compartment and the associated inflammatory milieu in HAM/TSP patients where virus-specific antibody production may be required to control viral persistence and/or may be associated with disease development.

Treatment recommendations for non-HIV associated cryptococcal meningoencephalitis including management of post-infectious inflammatory response syndrome.

Cryptococcal meningoencephalitis (CM) continues to cause major morbidity and mortality in a range of patients such as those immunosuppressed from HIV and with biologic immunosuppressants, including treatments of autoimmunity, malignancies, and conditioning regimens for transplantation. It is currently the most common cause of non-viral meningitis in the United States. Infections in previously healthy patients also develop with autoantibodies to granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor or with monogenetic defects. In all populations, mortality and significant long-term morbidity occur in 30-50% despite therapy, and immune reconstitution and post-infectious inflammatory response syndromes complicate management. To help with these difficult cases, we present here a practical tutorial of the care of a range of patients with CM in the absence of HIV/AIDS.

Clinical trial of raltegravir, an integrase inhibitor, in HAM/TSP.

OBJECTIVE: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a chronic, progressive myelopathy. A high proviral load (PVL) is one of the main risk factors for HAM/TSP. Recently, it was shown that raltegravir could inhibit cell-free and cell-to-cell transmission of HTLV-1 in vitro. Given the substantial clinical experience in human immunodeficiency virus infection and its excellent safety profile, this agent may be an attractive therapeutic option for HAM/TSP patients. METHODS: Sixteen subjects with HAM/TSP received raltegravir 400 mg orally twice daily in an initial 6-month treatment phase, followed by a 9-month post-treatment phase. HTLV-1 PVLs were assessed using droplet digital PCR from the PBMCs every 3 months, and from the CSF at baseline, month 6, and month 15. We also evaluated the ability of raltegravir to regulate abnormal immune responses in HAM/TSP patients. RESULTS: While a downward trend was observed in PBMC and/or CSF PVLs of some patients, raltegravir overall did not have any impact on the PVL in this HAM/TSP patient cohort. Clinically, all patients' neurological scores and objective measurements remained relatively stable, with some expected variability. Immunologic studies showed alterations in the immune profiles of a subset of patients including decreased CD4+ CD25+ T cells and spontaneous lymphoproliferation. INTERPRETATION: Raltegravir was generally well tolerated in this HAM/TSP patient cohort. A subset of patients exhibited a mild decrease in PVL as well as variations in their immune profiles after taking raltegravir. These findings suggest that raltegravir may be a therapeutic option in select HAM/TSP patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01867320.

Clinical trial of a humanized anti-IL-2/IL-15 receptor ß chain in HAM/TSP.

OBJECTIVE: Human T cell lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1)-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a chronic, progressive, neurological disease. Chronic activation of CD8+ T cells, as evidenced by increased spontaneous lymphoproliferation and HTLV-1-specific cytotoxic T cells, has been demonstrated in HAM/TSP patients. Since IL-2 and IL-15 stimulate memory CD8+ T cell activity, these cytokines have been implicated in the immunopathogenesis of HAM/TSP. In this phase I trial, we evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, and ability of Hu-Mikß1, a humanized monoclonal antibody directed toward the IL-2/IL-15 receptor ß-chain (IL-2/IL-15Rß: CD122), to saturate CD122 and regulate abnormal immune responses in patients with HAM/TSP by inhibition of IL-15 action. METHODS: Hu-Mikß1 was administered intravenously at doses of 0.5 mg/kg, 1.0 mg/kg, or 1.5 mg/kg in a total of nine HAM/TSP patients. Five doses of Hu-Mikß1 were administered at 3-week intervals. The clinical response was evaluated using standardized scales. Viral and immunologic outcome measures were examined including HTLV-1 proviral load, T cell phenotypic analysis and spontaneous lymphoproliferation in HAM/TSP patients. RESULTS: There was no significant toxicity associated with Hu-Mikß1 administration in HAM/TSP patients. Saturation of CD122 by Hu-Mikß1 was achieved in five out of nine HAM/TSP patients. Administration of Hu-Mikß1 was associated with inhibition of aberrant CD8+ T cell function including spontaneous lymphoproliferation and degranulation and IFN-γ expression, especially in HAM/TSP patients that achieved CD122 saturation. INTERPRETATION: The treatment with Hu-Mikß1 had a number of immunological effects on HAM/TSP patients although no clinical efficacy was observed. We also did not see any dose-related toxicity.

Neurological Complications and Sequelae of Ebola Virus Disease.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The recent 2014-2016 outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) has led to many discoveries regarding Ebola. Although neurological symptoms during EVD had been previously described, many reports since this outbreak have made clear that EVD can lead to neurological issues. This article will review the various neurological manifestations of EVD. RECENT FINDINGS: Recently, many neurological symptoms have been described during acute EVD, including altered mental status, seizures, and meningoencephalitis, among others; survivors of EVD also may develop neurological sequelae, such as persistent headache and memory loss and can exhibit abnormalities on neurological exam. Additionally, it is now evident that in rare cases, survivors may experience relapses of EVD months after recovery, including the central nervous system (CNS). EVD can result in many clinical neurological manifestations, both acutely and after recovery. Research is ongoing to further clarify the nature of Ebola in the CNS.

Neurological Complications of Ebola Virus Infection.

Ebola virus disease is one of the deadliest pathogens known to man, with a mortality rate between 25-90% depending on the species and outbreak of Ebola. Typically, it presents with fever, headache, voluminous vomiting and diarrhea, and can progress to a hemorrhagic illness; neurologic symptoms, including meningoencephalitis, seizures, and coma, can also occur. Recently, an outbreak occurred in West Africa, affecting > 28,000 people, and killing > 11,000. Owing to the magnitude of this outbreak, and the large number (>17,000) of Ebola survivors, the medical and scientific communities are learning much more about the acute manifestations and sequelae of Ebola. A number of neurologic complications can occur after Ebola, such as seizures, memory loss, headaches, cranial nerve abnormalities, and tremor. Ebola may also persist in some immunologically privileged sites, including the central nervous system, and can rarely lead to relapse in disease. Owing to these findings, it is important that survivors are evaluated and monitored for neurologic symptoms. Much is unknown about this disease, and treatment remains largely supportive; however, with ongoing clinical and basic science, the mechanisms of how Ebola affects the central nervous system and how it persists after acute disease will hopefully become more clear, and better treatments and clinical practices for Ebola patients will be developed.