Pulmonary features and stage of disease in adult patients with hyper-IgE syndrome: A single-centre clinical study and literature review

Background The hyper-IgE syndromes (HIES) are a heterogeneous group of inborn errors of immunity-sharing manifestations including increased infection susceptibility, eczema, and raised serum IgE. Pulmonary complications are responsible for high morbidity and mortality rates in patients with HIES. This study examines the progression of pulmonary disease in adult patients with HIES and compares the subsequent findings with existing literature. Methods Ten adult patients with HIES diagnosed at Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) from January 2016 to October 2023 were included in this study. Diagnosis was confirmed using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria and whole-exome sequencing. Clinical data on pulmonary disease progression, microbiology, imaging and histology were collected. A systematic literature review was conducted for comparison. Results Recurrent pulmonary infections led to significant structural lung damage, with 90.0% (9/10) of patients developing bronchiectasis and pneumatocele. Early infections (0-10years) were predominantly due to Staphylococcus aureus (80.0%,8/10), while later stages (6-22years) showed a shift to more complex infections with Aspergillus/fungus (70.0%,7/10), Mycobacterium tuberculosis (50.0%, 5/10), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (40.0%, 4/10). Imaging revealed extensive bronchiectasis and pneumatocele formation. Histological examinations demonstrated acute inflammation (40%, 2/5), granuloma formation (80%, 4/5), and eosinophilic infiltration (100%, 5/5). Comparatively, our findings are consistent with previous reports that suggest a higher incidence of pulmonary structural damage in patients with the signal transducer and activator of the transcription 3 (STAT3) mutations than in those with other gene variants. However, our cohort showed a faster progression from initial infection to structural damage, highlighting the need for early intervention. Conclusion The progression of pulmonary disease in HIES patients underscores a critical three-step process: initial recurrent infections, development of structural lung damage, and subsequent reinfections that aggravate the damage. This rapid transition from infection to structural damage, especially in patients with STAT3 mutations, highlights the importance of early and aggressive intervention. Managing reinfections after structural lung damage is essential to prevent further deterioration and to improve long-term outcomes.