Adjuvant interferon-gamma immunotherapy in a patient with progressive cerebral Nocardia abscesses.
Despite advances in medical care, mortality due to cerebral Nocardia abscesses remains unacceptably high. The case of a typical immunocompromised patient, who deteriorated clinically despite optimal antimicrobial treatment, is reported here. Adjuvant immunotherapy with interferon-gamma resulted in partial restoration of the immune response and a corresponding clinical and radiographic recovery.
Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud university medical center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RILMS), Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Radboud university medical center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RILMS), Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Jenneke
J
Leentjens
Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud university medical center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RILMS), Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Mark S
MS
Gresnigt
Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud university medical center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RILMS), Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Frank L
FL
van de Veerdonk
Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Radboud university medical center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RILMS), Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Matthijs
M
Kox
Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud university medical center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RILMS), Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Bart Jan
BJ
Kullberg
Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Radboud university medical center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RILMS), Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Peter
P
Pickkers
Department of Internal Medicine, Elisabeth Hospital, Tilburg, the Netherlands.
Annemarie E
AE
Brouwer
Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud university medical center, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RILMS), Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: mihai.netea@radboudumc.nl.
Mihai G
MG
Netea
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009615:Nocardia; D009617:Nocardia Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007371:Interferon-gamma
Cerebral abscess; IFN-gamma; Immunotherapy; Nocardia; Nocardiosis