[PAGID] 70 year old nurse with low serum immunoglobulins, arthralgia, diminished specific antibody titer 1 year post immunization anddecreased switched memory B cells

[dmvascon at usp.br]

Does she present lymphadenopathy or evidence of clonal (B or T) or  
even myelodysplastic disease? It is also interesting to look for  
thymoma.

Regards.

Dewton Vasconcelos
University of Sao Paulo

Citando "Saxon, Andy M.D." <ASaxon at mednet.ucla.edu>:


> Find her low grade lymphoma (Solomon's Rule)

>

> Andy Saxon, MD

> UCLA

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: pagid-bounces at list.clinimmsoc.org  

> [mailto:pagid-bounces at list.clinimmsoc.org] On Behalf Of Berger, Melvin

> Sent: Friday, July 30, 2010 11:15 PM

> To: pagid at list.clinimmsoc.orgo

> Subject: Re: [PAGID] 70 year old nurse with low serum  

> immunoglobulins, arthralgia, diminished specific antibody titer 1  

> year post immunization anddecreased switched memory B cells

>

> Does she have a firm rheumatologic diagnosis ? and does she have any  

> evidence of chronic/recurrent sinusitis, bronchitis or  

> bronchiectasis ?  What are her titers to other protein antigens:  

> diptheria toxoid, varicella, influenza virus ?

>

> Melvin Berger, M.D., Ph.D.

> Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics and Pathology Case Western Reserve  

> University Cleveland, OH 44106

>

>

>

> -----Original Message-----

> From: pagid-bounces at list.clinimmsoc.org on behalf of michael clayton

> Sent: Fri 7/30/2010 4:26 PM

> To: pagid at list.clinimmsoc.org

> Subject: [PAGID] 70 year old nurse with low serum immunoglobulins,  

> arthralgia,diminished specific antibody titer 1 year post  

> immunization anddecreased switched memory B cells

>

> Hello everyone:  I have a patient that I would like to get feedback  

> on.  A colleagues' 70 year old nurse was referred for consultation  

> after her rheumatologist found slightly low serum immunoglobulins (  

> IgG 564, IgM 62, IgA 54).  She was sent to the rheumatologist  

> because of achy joints, recurrent fevers to 101 every 21 days and  

> recurrent aphthous stomatitis.  The only known significant infection  

> was pneumonia within the previous 6 months.  ANA, RF and ANCA all  

> wnl.  Parvovirus, Lyme and T pallidum titers all negative.  Serum  

> albumin normal, and normal urinalysis.  No neutropenia noted during  

> febrile episodes.  Protein electrophoresis was normal.  I ordered  

> specific antibody titers and tetanus was 0.0 IU/ml, pneumococcal  

> titers showed only 6/14 serotypes in protective range.  She was  

> immunized with both, showing excellent response: tetanus 0.46 IU/ml,  

> and now all pneumococcal serotypes showing fourfold increase in  

> titer, or an increase to > 1.0 ug/ml.

>

> I did not see her again until last month, when I was disappointed to  

> find that she has continued to have the symptoms.  The  

> rheumatologist tried colchicine empirically for Famiial Mediteranean  

> Fever without any consistent improvement.  I repeated her labs, and  

> the pneumococcal serotypes showed similar levels of antibody, but  

> her tetanus titer had dropped to 0.05 IU/ml in 10 months.  Immune  

> panel:  CD3 75%, CD4 49%, CD8 25%, CD 19%, CD 16/56 15%, CD/CD8 2   

> (all wnl).  CBC= WBC 4.3, 64% neutrophils, 27% lymphs, 8% monos, 1%  

> eos, 182K plts.  Immunoglobulins now IgG 591, IgA 48, IgM 50.  I  

> ordered a B cell panel from National Jewish wondering if she was  

> evolving into CVID and she had a decreased number of switched memory  

> B cells:  IgD-/CD27+   4.1%  of  CD20+ cells (nl 8-42).  The ICOS  

> and BAFF receptor assays were normal.

>

> The questions I have about her are as follows:  What am I to make of  

> the decrease in switched memory B cells in light of the fact that  

> her tetanus titer appears to have dropped precipitously over 10  

> months?  Her IgG level is not impressively low, but she has had  

> pneumonia which was well documented,  recurrent fevers of  

> undetermined etiology and mouth ulcers that never heal.  I would  

> appreciate any of your thoughts.................

>

>

> Michael H. Clayton, MD, MPH

> Assistant Professor, UNM Dept. of Pediatrics, ID/Immunology Division

> 2211 Lomas Blvd. N.E.

> Albuquerque, N.M.   87131

> 505-296-5426 (office)

> 505-228-7958 (cell)

> mhclayton at msn.com

>

>

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