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Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome in Invasive Fungal Infections: What We Know and What We Need to Know?

  • Mycology (J Perfect, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) cause significant mortality and morbidity in HIV-infected patients, patients with malignancy on chemotherapy, recipients of solid organ and haematological stem cell transplantation, patients with primary immunodeficiencies and those on immunomodulators such as steroids and tumour necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors. Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), an exaggerated, unexpected inflammatory phenomena occurring in temporal association with enhanced immune function in these conditions, is difficult to recognise and manage. Here, we detail what we have learnt from studies in cryptococcosis-associated IRIS and discuss other common fungal IRIS including histoplasmosis-IRIS, talaromycosis/penicilliosis-IRIS, pneumocystis-IRIS and a less well-recognised IRIS seen with invasive aspergillosis in the setting of neutrophil recovery. We also reflect on the enormity of what we are yet to understand about IRIS immunopathogenesis, diagnosis and management.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Monash University, Melbourne, 3000, Australia

    Christina C. Chang

  2. School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, 6009, Australia

    Martyn A. French

  3. Department of Clinical Immunology, Royal Perth Hospital and PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Perth, 6000, Australia

    Martyn A. French

Authors
  1. Christina C. Chang
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  2. Martyn A. French
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Correspondence to Christina C. Chang.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Mycology

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Chang, C.C., French, M.A. Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome in Invasive Fungal Infections: What We Know and What We Need to Know?. Curr Clin Micro Rpt 3, 63–70 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40588-016-0033-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40588-016-0033-7

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