Increased frequency of infections and autoimmune disease in adults with PTEN Hamartoma Tumour Syndrome

• Published in: European journal of medical genetics Vol. 70; p. 104960
• Main Authors: Drissen, Meggie M.C.M., Vos, Janet R., Collado Camps, Estel, Schuurs-Hoeijmakers, Janneke H.M., Schieving, Jolanda H., Hoogerbrugge, Nicoline
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Masson SAS 01.08.2024
• Subjects: Autoimmune disease; Hamartoma syndrome, multiple; Immune system phenomena; Infections; Neoplastic syndromes, hereditary; PTEN phosphohydrolase; PTEN phosphohydrolase; Hamartoma syndrome, multiple; Autoimmune disease; Neoplastic syndromes, hereditary; Infections; Immune system phenomena; Autoimmune Disease; Hamartoma Syndrome; Multiple; Neoplastic Syndromes; PTEN Phosphohydrolase; Hereditary; Immune System Phenomena
• ISSN: 1769-7212; 1878-0849; 1878-0849
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2024.104960

There are indications for immune dysregulation in PTEN Hamartoma Tumour Syndrome (PHTS), however information on the clinical immune phenotype is lacking. We aimed to assess the frequency of infections and autoimmune disease in PHTS patients. A retrospective cohort study including 81 paediatric and 109 adult PHTS patients and 73 female adult controls and self-reported data from yearly surveillance visits. Differences between adult patients and controls were assessed with odds ratios (OR). Of paediatric patients, 1% reported fungal infections, 23% tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy, 36% bacterial infections requiring antibiotics, and 2% autoimmune disease. Of adult patients, up to 67% repeatedly reported fungal infections, and 73% was ever affected which was similar to controls. Compared to controls, adult patients more often reported (signs of) viral infections: tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy (78%; OR = 7.4 (95%CI: 3.7–15.8)), frequent infections during childhood (43%; OR = 2.5 (95%CI: 1.3–5.2)), and flu or cold infections more often than others (49%; OR = 3.9 (95%CI: 2.0–8.0)). Autoimmune disease was also more frequent (24%, OR = 2.7 (95%CI: 1.1–7.3)) in adult patients, and antibiotics use (38%, OR = 4.7 (95%CI: 1.3–23.0)) in female adult patients. PHTS patients experience a broad clinical phenotype of immune dysregulation. At adult age, this consists of more often viral and bacterial infections and autoimmune disease, and repetitive fungal infections.