Disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex in an adolescent with perinatally-acquired HIV infection

Abstract

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is the most frequent nontuberculous mycobacteria implicated in opportunistic infections that define acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. With highly active antiretroviral therapy, disseminated MAC (dMAC) has become a rare entity. This unique case of dMAC was diagnosed in an adolescent with newly diagnosed perinatally-acquired HIV infection whose initial CD4 cell count was severely depleted and viral load was extremely high. While maximized treatment regimen had not been able to control his dMAC, improvement was noted when granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was added. GM-CSF should be considered as an adjunctive therapy in patients with refractory dMAC.