809 FAVORABLE RESPONSE TO TRANSFER FACTOR IN GENERALIZED BATTEY BACILLUS INFECTION

Abstract

An 11 year old white girl presented with an 8-month history of thigh pain and weight loss. Skeletal survey showed multiple lytic lesions with radiographic appearance of “eosinophilic granuloma”. Tibial biopsy showed chronic osteomyelitis. Bone marrow culture grew Mycobacterium avium-intracelluare (Battey bacillus). A PPD-B skin test was positive with 27 mm. induration.

A 6-drug anti-mycobacterial regimen was instituted but the disease progressed over the next 9 months with development of new bony lesions and subcutaneous abscesses with sinus tract formation at aspiration sites. Cultures of aspirated material again grew Battey bacillus and PPD-B skin test became negative.

Immunologic evaluation revealed leukocytosis, an elevation of gammaglobulins, sed. rate, B-cells and serum lyzozymes. Phagocytosis and monocyte chemotaxis were normal.

Nine months after diagnosis she received 2 units of Transfer Factor prepared from a highly reactive PPD-B donor. Four and 6 weeks later one additional unit was given. Over the next few months her clinical status improved dramatically with healing of sinus tracts, weight gain and gradual resolution of bony lesions. Although the sed. rate remains elevated, the leukocyte count and immunoglobulins are approaching normal values.

This experience suggests that further clinical trials with Transfer Factor are warranted in such Battey bacillus infection.

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