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Vertical Transmission of Histoplasmosis Associated With Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy

James G Carlucci1, Natasha Halasa1, C Buddy Creech1

  • 1Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics.

Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
|March 26, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors increase invasive fungal infection risk. This case shows vertical transmission of disseminated histoplasmosis from a mother to her infant exposed to anti-TNF therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

  • Therapeutics targeting tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) are widely used for inflammatory conditions.
  • Anti-TNF therapy is associated with an increased risk of invasive fungal infections in adults.
  • The infectious risks to infants born to mothers receiving anti-TNF therapy remain incompletely understood.

Observation:

  • A case of disseminated histoplasmosis occurred in a mother undergoing anti-TNF therapy.
  • The infant born to this mother also developed disseminated histoplasmosis.
  • This suggests a potential mother-to-infant transmission of the infection.

Findings:

  • The study reports a case of vertical transmission of disseminated histoplasmosis.
  • This transmission occurred in a mother-infant pair with exposure to anti-TNF therapy.
  • This highlights a potential infectious risk associated with maternal anti-TNF use.

Implications:

  • Maternal anti-TNF therapy may pose a risk for vertical transmission of certain fungal infections like histoplasmosis.
  • Further research is needed to define the spectrum of infectious risks for infants exposed to anti-TNF in utero.
  • Clinical vigilance for invasive fungal infections in infants born to mothers on anti-TNF therapy is warranted.
Keywords:
histoplasmosisimmunocompromised hostinfanttumor necrosis factorvertical transmission

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