TY - JOUR
T1 - Immune reconstitution syndrome and fungal infections
AU - Gupta, Ashish O.
AU - Singh, Nina
PY - 2011/12
Y1 - 2011/12
N2 - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Fungal infections-related immune reconstitution syndrome (IRS) poses challenging diagnostic and management issues in immunocompromised hosts. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding its pathophysiologic basis, presentation, and treatment strategies. RECENT FINDINGS: Existing evidence suggests that IRS is a state of an imbalance between protective immunity and inflammatory pathology versus anti-inflammatory responses that restrain inflammation. IRS has been observed in diverse hosts including HIV-infected patients initiating potent antiretroviral therapy, transplant recipients, pregnant women, and recipients of iatrogenic biologic agents. Among the most common fungal infections associated with IRS is cryptococcosis, although this entity has been documented during the course of invasive aspergillosis, histoplasmosis, and candidiasis. Unique risk factors for IRS have been recognized in specific hosts. SUMMARY: IRS is a culmination of immunologic sequelae of host-pathogen interaction during evolution of an opportunistic infection, and as such the development of biomarkers that differentiate it from progressive disease would represent an important advance. Optimal management of immunosuppression and immunomodulatory approaches that target precise regulatory pathways for IRS warrant future investigations.
AB - PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Fungal infections-related immune reconstitution syndrome (IRS) poses challenging diagnostic and management issues in immunocompromised hosts. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding its pathophysiologic basis, presentation, and treatment strategies. RECENT FINDINGS: Existing evidence suggests that IRS is a state of an imbalance between protective immunity and inflammatory pathology versus anti-inflammatory responses that restrain inflammation. IRS has been observed in diverse hosts including HIV-infected patients initiating potent antiretroviral therapy, transplant recipients, pregnant women, and recipients of iatrogenic biologic agents. Among the most common fungal infections associated with IRS is cryptococcosis, although this entity has been documented during the course of invasive aspergillosis, histoplasmosis, and candidiasis. Unique risk factors for IRS have been recognized in specific hosts. SUMMARY: IRS is a culmination of immunologic sequelae of host-pathogen interaction during evolution of an opportunistic infection, and as such the development of biomarkers that differentiate it from progressive disease would represent an important advance. Optimal management of immunosuppression and immunomodulatory approaches that target precise regulatory pathways for IRS warrant future investigations.
KW - Fungal infections
KW - HIV
KW - Immune reconstitution syndrome
KW - Mycoses
KW - Transplants
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U2 - 10.1097/QCO.0b013e32834ab20a
DO - 10.1097/QCO.0b013e32834ab20a
M3 - Review article
C2 - 22025021
AN - SCOPUS:80055009914
SN - 0951-7375
VL - 24
SP - 527
EP - 533
JO - Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
JF - Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases
IS - 6
ER -