Patients with anti-
interferon (IFN)-γ
autoantibodies have weakened immune defenses against intracellular pathogens. Because of its low incidence and non-specific symptoms, diagnosis of anti-IFN-γ
autoantibody syndrome is difficult to establish during the early stages of
infection. Here, we report a patient with high titers of serum anti-IFN-γ
autoantibodies suffering from
opportunistic infections. The patient presented with intermittent
fever for 2 weeks. During his first hospitalization, he was diagnosed with Talaromyces marneffei pulmonary
infection and successfully treated with antifungal
therapy. However, multiple cervical lymph nodes subsequently became progressively enlarged.
Mycobacterium abscessus infection was confirmed by positive cervical lymph node tissue cultures. High-titer serum anti-IFN-γ
antibodies were also detected. Following anti-M. abscessus
therapy, both his symptoms and lymph node
lymphadenitis gradually improved. Anti-IFN-γ
autoantibody syndrome should be considered in adult patients with severe opportunistic
coinfections in the absence of other known risk factors.