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. 2025 Apr;36(4):e70074.
doi: 10.1111/pai.70074.

Invasive fungal disease in a large cohort of hospitalized children with inborn errors of immunity in China

Haiqiao Zhang  1 , Mi Yang  2   3 , Wenjing Ying  2 , Jia Hou  2 , Qinhua Zhou  2 , Bijun Sun  2 , Ying Wang  4 , Xiaoying Hui  2 , Lipin Liu  2 , Haili Yao  2 , Jinqiao Sun  2 , Wenjie Wang  2 , Xiaochuan Wang  1   2
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Invasive fungal disease in a large cohort of hospitalized children with inborn errors of immunity in China

Haiqiao Zhang et al. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2025 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Invasive fungal disease (IFD) is a common complication observed in inborn errors of immunodeficiency (IEI) patients, and little is known about the overall prevalence of IFD in IEI patients. We aimed to summarize the fungal spectrum and outcomes of IFDs in a Chinese cohort of hospitalized patients with IEI.

Methods: In this retrospective study, 607 IEI patients hospitalized from January 2018 to June 2022 were included. Demographic, clinical, and fungal infection data and IEI patient characteristics were collected and analyzed according to the IEI classification.

Results: One hundred and two IEI patients were diagnosed with proven or probable IFD. The overall prevalence of IFD was 17% (102/607). There were 29 different genotypes, among which CYBB (25%), CD40LG (9%), and RAG1 (7%) mutations were the most common. Most IFD infections (87/102) were caused by one fungus. Invasive Aspergillus, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, and Penicillium infections were more commonly observed in patients with congenital defects in phagocytes, immunodeficiencies affecting cellular and humoral immunity, and defects in innate immunity, respectively. Most IFDs observed in IEI patients were single-site infections, most of which were lung infections (74%). Seventeen patients were diagnosed with disseminated IFDs, nine of which were caused by Penicillium. All patients received antifungal treatments. Eight patients (8%) died within 3 months of IFD diagnosis.

Conclusions: IFD occurrence suggests the presence of immunity impairment. The IFD fungal profile may indicate different types of IEI. Early recognition of immunodeficiency and optimal timing of antifungal therapy can reduce fatality in IEI patients.

Keywords: SCID; fungal spectrum; inborn errors of immunity; invasive fungal disease; metagenomic next‐generation sequencing.

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