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Can mycobacterial infection cause high IgG4 levels?
Sto seguendo la terapia antibiotica per infezione da Micobatterio chimerae dda 3 mesi. Ho sempre valori Igg4 nel sangue alti, più del triplo del valore massimo normale. Inoltre sempre PCR alta. Qualcun altro ha mai riscontrato la stessa situazione? Sarò grata di ricevere supporto perché la cosa mi preoccupa abbastanza e i medici non sanno rispondermi. Ho fatto altri esami ma non si tratta di malaria igg4 rd. Può essere causa della micobatteriosi? Grazie
English translation from Google Translate https://translate.google.com
I have been undergoing antibiotic therapy for a *Mycobacterium chimaera* infection for three months. My blood IgG4 levels are consistently high—more than three times the upper limit of normal—and my CRP levels are also persistently elevated. Has anyone else experienced this situation? I would appreciate any support, as this worries me quite a bit and the doctors haven't been able to give me an answer. I’ve had other tests done, and it isn't IgG4-related disease. Could the mycobacterial infection be the cause? Thank you.
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@dantur Here is the translation of your original message
I am following antibiotic therapy for Mycobacterium chimerae infection for 3 months. I always have high Igg4 values in my blood, more than three times the normal maximum value. Also always high CRP. Has anyone else ever encountered the same situation? I will be grateful to receive support because it worries me quite a bit and the doctors cannot answer me. I have had other tests but it is not malaria igg4 rd. Can it be the cause of mycobacteriosis? Thank you
The answer is that high IgG4 is more likely the result of the infection than the cause.
M. Chimera is usually thought to be a hospital-caused infection, often associated with chest surgeries and/or contaminated hospital water supplies.
If your infection is not responding to treatment, it might be time to find a doctor who specializes in rare infections.
Did you recently have surgery?
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1 ReactionNo la mia è esclusivamente una micobatteriosi polmonare. Soffro di BPCO. Ho dovuto interrompere etanbutolo per problemi alla vista. Sto prendendo rifampicina e azitromicina. Forse è segno che la terapia non sta funzionando? Grazie
@dantur I don't know if your doctor explained thoroughly, but this treatment can take a year or longer to cure the infection, so 3 months of treatment is very early days. It is typical to begin now to repeat the sputum culture tests every month or two to learn if the amount of bacteria is diminishing or is gone.
BPCO, called COPD in English, can leave one vulnerable to Mycobacteria infections.
The antibiotics treat the infection, does the doctor order anything to ease the BPCO symptoms?
@sueinmn Lunedì ho la visita al reparto infettivi e chiederò se ritengono sia il momento per ripetere la broncoscopia. Per la BPCO non mi hanno dato nessuna terapia, mi hanno detto di fare la fisioterapia respiratoria a casa (PEP). Cosa posso fare per migliorare?
@dantur You wrote:
"@sueinmn On Monday I have a visit to the infectious ward and I will ask if they think it is time to repeat bronchoscopy. For COPD they did not give me any therapy, they told me to do respiratory physiotherapy at home (PEP). What can I do to improve?"
If they can teach you how to do airway clearance, you may be able to avoid a bronchoscopy by coughing up enough sputum for a laboratory culture. You might ask about that option.
Quite often, people with other lung diseases like COPD or Bronchiectasis can benefit from an inhaler to relax the airways, then "airway clearance" to help move mucus out of their lungs. Here is a good video about airway clearance, I hope you can translate it to Italian in the captions: