Disseminated Aspergillosis in X-linked Agammaglobulinemia: Beyond the norm.

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) due to a mutation in Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), leads to the arrested development of B cells at the pro-B cell stage. This results in absent B cells and severe hypogammaglobulinemia. XLA patients usually present with recurrent sinopulmonary infection. Bacterial infections are the commonest [2], fungal infections like Pneumocystis jirovecii, Aspergillus and Candida species are rarely reported and they are associated with mortality in XLA [3]. We report a 3.5-year-old boy with disseminated aspergillosis, an uncommon presentation of XLA. Despite treatment with antifungals, including voriconazole and amphotericin B, the patient succumbed to the illness. Genetic analysis revealed a pathogenic variant in the BTK gene (R28H), confirming XLA diagnosis. This case highlights the potential for severe fungal infections in XLA patients and suggests broader immune system dysregulation beyond B-cell defects.

Expanding the Clinical Phenotype with CD79A Mutation and Refractory Helicobacter Bilis Infection.

Autosomal recessive agammaglobulinemia is a severe primary antibody deficiency disorder typically presenting in infancy. We present a rare case of an 8-year-old boy with AR agammaglobulinemia due to a homozygous splice site variant (c.499-1G > A) in the CD79A gene. Despite monthly intravenous immunoglobulin replacement and prophylactic antibiotics, he developed refractory Helicobacter bilis leg ulcers. Helicobacter species are known for extracellular colonization and are challenging to culture, necessitating molecular diagnostics for identification. The patient required prolonged treatment with intravenous meropenem followed by oral metronidazole and doxycycline for resolution of the ulcers over two years. The patient also exhibited persistent asymptomatic thrombocytopenia, an atypical finding in CD79A mutation cases. This case underscores the importance of genetic diagnosis and targeted antimicrobial therapy in managing rare infections associated with primary immunodeficiencies like autosomal recessive agammaglobulinemia due to CD79A mutation.

X-Linked Lymphoproliferative Syndrome: A Spectrum of Clinical and Immunological Profile and Novel Pathogenic Variants from Chandigarh, India.

INTRODUCTION: X-linked lymphoproliferative syndrome (XLP) is a rare primary immune deficiency. Two types of XLP have been described: XLP-1 and XLP-2. METHODS: We found 7 patients with XLP (3 had XLP-1 and 4 had XLP-2) after reviewing the data from Pediatric Immunodeficiency Clinic from 1997 to 2021. RESULTS: Mean age at diagnosis was 3.8 years, and mean delay in diagnosis was 2.6 years. Five patients had recurrent episodes of infections. Four patients developed at least one episode of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) (2 with XLP-1 and 2 with XLP-2). Of these, 2 had recurrent HLH (both with XLP-2). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection was detected in 2 (1 with XLP-1 and 1 with XLP-2). Both these patients had HLH. One child with XLP-2 had inflammatory bowel disease. Hypogammaglobulinemia was seen in 3 (2 with XLP-1 and 1 with XLP-2). Genetic analysis showed previously reported variants in 5, while 2 had novel variants (one in exon 7 of XIAP gene [c.1370dup p.Asn457Lysfs Ter16] and other had splice site variant in intron 1 of SH2D1A gene [c.138-2_138-1insG]). Episodes of HLH were managed with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), methylprednisolone, oral prednisolone, cyclosporine, and rituximab. Inflammatory bowel disease was managed using oral prednisolone and azathioprine. One patient underwent haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. One child with XLP-2 and WAS died because of fulminant pneumonia. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSIONS: XLP should be considered as a strong possibility in any patient with features of HLH, repeated infections with hypogammaglobulinemia, persistent EBV infection, and early-onset IBD.

Delay in diagnosis is the most important proximate reason for mortality in hereditary angio-oedema: our experience at Chandigarh, India.

BACKGROUND: Hereditary angio-oedema (HAE) is a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized clinically by recurrent episodes of nonpruritic subcutaneous and/or submucosal oedema. Laryngeal oedema is the commonest cause of mortality in patients with HAE. Prior to the availability of first-line treatment options for the management of HAE, mortality was as high as 30%. Mortality has significantly declined in countries where first-line treatment options are available and patients can access these therapies. There is a paucity of literature on the outcomes of patients with HAE in developing countries where availability of and access to first-line treatment options are still a challenge. OBJECTIVES: To report our experience on mortality in patients with HAE and to report factors associated with the death of these patients. METHODS: We carried out a record review of all patients diagnosed with HAE between January 1996 and August 2022. Families with HAE who had reported the death of at least one family member/relative from laryngeal oedema were studied in detail. RESULTS: Of the 65 families (170 patients) registered in the clinic, 16 families reported the death of at least one family member/relative from laryngeal oedema (total of 36 deaths). Of these 16 families, 14 reported that 1 or more family members had experienced at least 1 attack of laryngeal oedema. One patient died during follow-up when she was taking long-term prophylaxis with stanozolol and tranexamic acid, while the remaining 35 patients were not diagnosed with HAE at the time of their death. At the time of death of all 36 patients, at least 1 other family member had symptoms suggestive of HAE, but the diagnosis was not established for the family. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the largest single-centre cohort of patients with HAE in India reporting mortality data and factors associated with death in these families. The delay in diagnosis is the most important reason for mortality.

Clinical, immunological and molecular profiles of DOCK8 deficiency in six patients from a tertiary care centre in North India.

BACKGROUND: Dedicator of cytokinesis protein 8 (DOCK8) deficiency is an autosomal recessive form of combined immunodeficiency. This rare disorder is characterized by an increased predisposition to allergy, autoimmunity and malignancies. OBJECTIVES: To analyse clinical, immunological and molecular profiles of patients with DOCK8 deficiency. METHODS: Clinic records of all patients attending the primary immunodeficiency clinic from 2018 to 2021 were reviewed. Six patients from five families were found to have DOCK8 deficiency. RESULTS: Median age at diagnosis was 7.5 years (range 2-13), with a male/female ratio of 5 : 1. Among the six patients, recurrent eczematous skin lesions were the predominant cutaneous manifestation, present in five patients (83%). Warts and molluscum contagiosum were evident in two patients (33%) and one patient (16%), respectively. Two patients had recalcitrant prurigo nodularis lesions and two had epidermodysplasia verruciformis-like lesions. Food allergies and asthma were reported by one patient each. Of the six patients, recurrent sinopulmonary infections were detected in five (83%). Epstein-Barr virus-driven non-Hodgkin lymphoma with liver metastases was the only case of malignancy, in a 4-year-old boy. IgE was elevated in all patients. Lymphopenia and eosinophilia were observed in three patients (50%) and five patients (83.3%), respectively. Genetic analysis showed DOCK8 pathogenic variants in all patients: homozygous deletion mutations in two patients, compound heterozygous deletion mutations in one, and homozygous nonsense mutations in two. A novel pathogenic homozygous missense variant in the DOCK8 gene was identified in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: DOCK8 deficiency should be considered as a possibility in any patient with early onset eczema, cutaneous viral infections and increased predisposition to allergy, autoimmunity and malignancy.

Tuberculosis and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Disease in Patients with Chronic Granulomatous Disease: an Experience from a Tertiary Care Center in North India.

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a phagocytic defect characterized by recurrent bacterial and fungal infections. We report clinical profile of patients with CGD and mycobacterial infections in a cohort from North India. A review of clinical and laboratory records was carried out for patients with CGD registered at our center between 1990 and 2021. Of the 99 patients with CGD, 22 had mycobacterial infections-Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M. bovis-BCG in 11 each. Among the children with M. bovis-BCG infection, 6 had localized and 5 had disseminated BCG disease. Median age at onset of symptoms and diagnosis of BCG disease was 5 months and 15 months, respectively. While disseminated forms of BCG were noted only in CYBB defect, none of the patients with NCF1 defect developed complications due to BCG vaccine. A recurring radiological feature was left axillary lymph node calcification, which was present in around 50% of CGD patients with BCG infections. Of 11 patients with tuberculosis, pulmonary, pleuro-pulmonary, abdominal, and disseminated forms were present in 6, 1, 2, and 2, respectively. Median age at onset of symptoms and diagnosis of tuberculosis was 129 months and 130 months, respectively. Molecular defects were identified in CYBB (5), NCF1 (4), and CYBA (1). Incidence of tuberculosis and BCG-related complications in patients with CGD is higher than the normal population. Screening for CGD is warranted in any patient with adverse reactions to BCG vaccination, calcification of left axillary lymph node, and persistent, recurrent or disseminated forms of tuberculosis.

Utility of Immunohistochemistry and Immunofluorescence in Determining the Pathogenic Variants of Chronic Granulomatous Disease.

BACKGROUND: Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency disorder of phagocytes due to defects in any of the five subunits of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase complex. An initial diagnosis of CGD is made by flow cytometry-based dihydrorhodamine assay or nitro blue tetrazolium test, which is further confirmed by molecular assays. Expression of five subunits of NADPH oxidase components by either flow cytometric or western blot analysis provides clues toward the potential gene targets which are subsequently confirmed by various genetic assays. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and immunofluorescence (IF) have never been earlier used to determine the expression of different subunits of NADPH oxidase system. We evaluated the utility of IHC and IF in determining the underlying pathogenic variants of CGD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve genetically confirmed cases of CGD, comprising of biopsy specimens (n = 6), tissue blocks from autopsy cases (n = 3), and cellblocks of cell pellet prepared from peripheral blood (n = 4) were included. IHC for p67phox and p47phox subunits and IF for cytochrome b558 were performed. RESULTS: All 4 cases with pathogenic variation of NCF2 gene showed loss of expression for p67phox subunit. Two cases with pathogenic variation of NCF1 gene showed loss of expression for p47phox subunit. Five cases, except a single case with CYBB gene pathogenic variation, showed loss of expression for cytochrome b558 on IF. Thus, loss of expression consistently matched with the underlying genetic defects assessed by sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm our hypothesis that IHC and IF are two rapid, economical, pathologist-friendly techniques providing pertinent information regarding the underlying pathogenic variants and such immuno-analysis can be easily performed on the tissue.

Effect of Music on Outcomes of Birth Asphyxia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Birth asphyxia may cause neuro-developmental impairment in the affected newborns especially those who had hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Music therapy has been observed to help in reducing pain and stress in newborns and improve neurodevelopmental outcome. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to determine the effects of music therapy on the outcomes of birth asphyxia. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial involving 3095 newborns born between January 2013 and August 2019 with birth asphyxia was conducted in the neonatal intensive care unit of Burdwan Medical College. They were distributed in two groups-A (received music therapy along with coventional management) and B (only received conventional management), using computer-generated randomization. Pain score was assessed during any painful procedure and the neurodevelopmental outcome was measured at 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th months. p < 0.01 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: A total of 3095 newborns were included with a mean gestation of 34.3 ± 2.1 weeks and 56.7% of them were male. Mean hospital stay, oxygen dependency, requirement of mechanical ventilation and incidence of apnea were significantly lesser among newborns of group A. Newborns of group B showed a significantly higher mean pain score, whereas newborns in Group A exhibited significantly greater mental and motor neurodevelopmental quotients. CONCLUSIONS: Music therapy was observed to help in reducing hospital stay, oxygen dependency, incidences of apnea, pain during procedures and also resulted in better neurodevelopmental outcome. However, before generalizing the findings, further multi-centric research should be undertaken.

Immunoglobulin replacement therapies in inborn errors of immunity: a review.

Immunoglobulins (Ig) were used as a therapeutic modality for the first time in a patient with X-linked agammaglobulinemia in 1952 by Colonel Ogden Bruton, decades before the molecular mechanisms causing the disease were unraveled. In many autoimmune and inflammatory illnesses, human immunoglobulin has been employed as a significant immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive drug. In patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI), immunoglobulin remains a cornerstone of management. IEIs are notable causes of recurrent infections and autoimmunity due to inheritable single-gene defects in genes encoding for different components of the immune system. As there is decreased immunoglobulin production in IEIs with antibody defects, immunoglobulin replacement is the mainstay of therapy in these disorders. Although serum immunoglobulin levels may not be low in combined immune defects, immunoglobulin replacement is still necessary in these disorders due to a deficiency of functional antibodies and qualitative defects of immunoglobulins. Commercial immunoglobulin preparations are generated from plasma donated by thousands of donors. Immunoglobulin preparations are usually available in two forms: intravenous and subcutaneous immunoglobulins. In the developed world, both intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) and subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIg) are available, and SCIg is preferred over IVIg for replacement therapy in patients with IEIs. In developing countries, IVIg remains the mainstay of replacement therapy. The rate of adverse events has significantly reduced over the last few years due to advancements in the production process. In this review article, we discuss different aspects of the use of Ig (indications, dosing, mechanism of action, route, adverse effects) in patients with IEIs.

Transmission patterns of C1-INH deficiency hereditary angioedema favors a wild-type male offspring: Our experience at Chandigarh, India.

BACKGROUND: Deficiency of C1-inhibitor (C1-INH) protein, caused by pathogenic variants in the Serpin family G member 1 (SERPING1) gene, is the commonest pathophysiological abnormality (in ∼95 % cases) in patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE). C1-INH protein provides negative control over kallikrein-kinin system (KKS). Although the inheritance of the HAE-C1-INH is autosomal dominant, female predominance has often been observed in patients with HAE. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the risk of transmission of SERPING1 gene variant from father or mother to their offspring. METHODS: Pedigree charts of 42 families with a confirmed diagnosis of HAE-C1-INH and a pathogenic variant in the SERPING1 gene were analysed. Patients with HAE who had had at least one child were included for analyses to assess the risk of transmission from the father or mother to their offspring. RESULTS: Overall, 49 % (189/385) of all offspring inherited the genetic defect. In the subgroup analyses, 54.8 % (90/164) female offspring and 44.8 % (99/221; p < 0.02) male offspring inherited the genetic defect. Inheritance of the genetic defect was significantly lower in male offspring. Fathers with SERPING1 gene variant had a statistically significant skewed transmission of the wild type to the male offspring as compared to the variant (57.8 % wild type vs. 42.1 % variant; p < 0.02), whereas no statistically significant difference was found when a father transmitted the variant to a female offspring. Mothers with SERPING1 gene variant had no statistically significant difference in variant transmission to male or female offsprings. CONCLUSION: Results of the study suggest that the transmission pattern of SERPING1 gene variant favours the transmission of wild-type alleles in males, especially when the father is the carrier; hence, overall, fewer males and more female offspring inherited the variant. This could be because of a selection of wild-type male sperms during spermatogenesis, as the KLK system has been reported to play a crucial role in the regulation of spermatogenesis. Although, a similar pattern was observed in the maternal transmission of the SERPING1 gene variant; the difference was not statistically significant, likely because of a small sample size.

Clinical profile and management of pediatric hereditary angioedema in resource-constrained settings: our experience from a single centre in North India.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare genetic disorder. The pattern of HAE is different in children as compared to adults. There is limited literature from developing countries where all first-line treatments are either unavailable or not easily accessible. Data of children with HAE were retrieved from medical records of patients registered in the Pediatric Immunodeficiency Clinic at our institute. Of the 206 patients with HAE, 61 were diagnosed before the age of 18 years. Male: female ratio was 1.1:1. Median age at onset of symptoms and diagnosis were 6.2 years (range 1-17 years) and 10.7 years (range 1.5-18 years) respectively. Median delay in diagnosis was 4.9 years (range 0-16 years). The commonest presentation was facial swelling (51/61) followed by swelling of extremities (47/61). Laryngeal edema and abdominal symptoms were reported in 28/61 and 31/61 patients respectively. Abdominal attacks were found to be less common in children as compared to adults. Most patients in our cohort received fresh-frozen plasma (n = 5/61) as on-demand therapy. Long-term prophylaxis included attenuated androgens (n = 25/61) and tranexamic acid (n = 23/61). Median duration of follow-up was 2242 patient months. One patient died on follow-up in this cohort. This is the largest single-centre cohort of pediatric HAE from resource-constrained settings. Facial attacks were more common, and there were significant delays in diagnosis when the age of onset of symptoms was younger. Gastrointestinal symptoms were less common in children than adults. HIGHLIGHTS: One of the largest single-centre cohorts of pediatric HAE and the only one from resource-constrained settings. There were significant delays in diagnosis when the age of onset of symptoms was younger. Abdominal attacks were found to be less common in children as compared to adults.

A young boy with rash, arthritis, and developmental delay: Monogenic lupus due to DNASE2 gene defect.

Monogenic causes are increasingly being recognized in patients with lupus, especially in early-onset disease. We herein report a boy with a novel mutation in the DNase 2 (DNASE2) gene presenting with monogenic lupus. A 6-year-old boy with a global developmental delay with microcephaly presented with chronic febrile illness with anemia, rash, polyarthritis, renal involvement, and hepatosplenomegaly. Laboratory investigations revealed positive antinuclear antibody, high anti-dsDNA antibody titers, hypocomplementemia, hypergammaglobulinemia, nephrotic range proteinuria, and diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis. Magnetic resonance imaging of brain showed altered signal intensity in subcortical white matter in bilateral fronto-parieto-temporal lobes. Targeted next-generation sequencing revealed a novel pathogenic variant in DNASE2. He was treated with oral prednisolone, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporine, and hydroxychloroquine and is doing well on follow up. DNASE2 deficiency has been reported as a rare genetic cause of monogenic lupus. DNASE2 deficiency should be suspected in patients with early-onset lupus with polyarthritis, erythematous rash, and neurological involvement.

Management of hereditary angioedema in resource-constrained settings: A consensus statement from Indian subcontinent.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is an uncommon disorder characterized clinically by recurrent episodes of nonitchy subcutaneous and/or submucosal swellings. The estimated prevalence of HAE is ~ 1: 10,000 to 1: 50,000. There are no prevalence data from India, however, estimates suggest that there are 27,000 to 135,000 patients with HAE in India at present. The majority of these, however, remain undiagnosed. Replacement of plasma-derived or recombinant C1-esterase inhibitor (C1-INH) protein, administered intravenously, is the treatment of choice during the management of acute episodes of angioedema (i.e., "on-demand treatment") and is also useful for short-term prophylaxis (STP) and long-term prophylaxis (LTP). This has been found to be effective and safe even in young children and during pregnancy. Until recently, none of the first-line treatment options were available for "on-demand treatment," STP or LTP in India. As a result, physicians had to use fresh frozen plasma for both "on-demand treatment" and STP. For LTP, attenuated androgens (danazol or stanozolol) and/or tranexamic acid were commonly used. These drugs have been reported to be useful for LTP but are associated with a significant risk of adverse effects. Intravenous pd-C1-INH, the first-line treatment option, is now available in India. However, because there is no universal health insurance, access to pd-C1-INH is a significant challenge. HAE Society of India has developed these consensus guidelines for India and other resource-constrained settings where plasma-derived C1-INH therapy is the only available first-line treatment option for the management of HAE and diagnostic facilities are limited. These guidelines have been developed because it may not be possible for all patients to access the recommended therapy and at the recommended doses as suggested by the international guidelines. Moreover, it may not be feasible to follow the evaluation algorithm suggested by the international guidelines.

Exploration of Potential Biomarker Genes and Pathways in Kawasaki Disease: An Integrated in-Silico Approach.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a common childhood systemic vasculitis with a special predilection for coronary arteries. Even after more than five decades of the initial description of the disease, the etiology of KD remains an enigma. This transcriptome data re-analysis study aimed to elucidate the underlying pathogenesis of KD using a bioinformatic approach to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) to delineate common pathways involved in KD. Array datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus database were extracted and subjected to comparative meta-analysis for the identification of prominent DEGs. Fifteen hub genes with high connectivity were selected from these DEGs (IL1B, ITGAM, TLR2, CXCL8, SPI1, S100A12, MMP9, PRF1, TLR8, TREM1, CD44, UBB, FCER1G, IL7R, and FCGR1A). Of these 15 genes, five genes (CXCL8, FCGR1A, IL1B, TLR2, and TLR8) were found to be involved in neutrophil degranulation. To gain further insight into the molecular mechanism, a protein-protein network was established. Significantly enriched pathways based on the above-mentioned genes were mainly centered on biological regulation and signaling events. In addition, the pathway analysis also indicated that the majority of the DEGs in KD were enriched in systemic lupus erythematosus, suggesting a strong interplay between immunological and genetic factors in the pathogenesis of KD. These findings could significantly aid in identifying therapeutic targets and understanding KD biosignatures to design a biomarker panel for early diagnosis and severity of the disease.

What Lies Ahead for Young Hearts in the 21st Century - Is It Double Trouble of Acute Rheumatic Fever and Kawasaki Disease in Developing Countries?

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD), the principal long-term sequel of acute rheumatic fever (ARF), has been a major contributor to cardiac-related mortality in general population, especially in developing countries. With improvement in health and sanitation facilities across the globe, there has been almost a 50% reduction in mortality rate due to RHD over the last 25 years. However, recent estimates suggest that RHD still results in more than 300,000 deaths annually. In India alone, more than 100,000 deaths occur due to RHD every year (Watkins DA et al., N Engl J Med, 2017). Children and adolescents (aged below 15 years) constitute at least one-fourth of the total population in India. Besides, ARF is, for the most part, a pediatric disorder. The pediatric population, therefore, requires special consideration in developing countries to reduce the burden of RHD. In the developed world, Kawasaki disease (KD) has emerged as the most important cause of acquired heart disease in children. Mirroring global trends over the past two decades, India also has witnessed a surge in the number of cases of KD. Similarly, many regions across the globe classified as "high-risk" for ARF have witnessed an increasing trend in the incidence of KD. This translates to a double challenge faced by pediatric health care providers in improving cardiac outcomes of children affected with ARF or KD. We highlight this predicament by reviewing the incidence trends of ARF and KD over the last 50 years in ARF "high-risk" regions.

Neurological manifestations in children with dengue fever: an Indian perspective.

Ours was a descriptive observational cross-sectional study carried out in a tertiary care hospital in eastern India over a period of one year to study the profile of neurological involvement in paediatric dengue patients. Of 71 laboratory-confirmed cases, 20 (28.17%) had neurological involvement. Common forms observed were acute encephalopathy (40%), encephalitis (30%), pure motor weakness (15%), transverse myelitis (5%), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (5%) and Guillain-Barré syndrome (5%). The dengue IgM antibody could be detected in the cerebrospinal fluid of only two patients with encephalitis. Neurological involvement was present in all four patients who died during the study period (two-tailed P value = 0.005).