Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 1: A Report of Rare Case of a 16-Year-Old Asian Female Patient With Respiratory Manifestations

Abstract

Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome (APS) spans three types of autoimmune disorders, categorized as APS type 1, type 2, and type 3. APS type 1 (APS-1) is the rarest type of the three. Complications of APS-1 can affect the bones, joints, skin, nails, gonads, eyes, thyroid, and several internal organs. We report a case of APS-1 in a 16-year-old female patient, who presented with complaints of oral thrush, tingling and numbness in her peripheries, and rash with multiple patches on the whole body with an infection of the nails, all around the age of 11 years, progressively worsening with time. In the next two years, she developed a bilateral decrease in visual acuity and dryness of the eyes as well as seizures, which have previously been seen in APS-1 patients. Laboratory results revealed hypocalcemia and hypoparathyroidism, but normal morning cortisol. Her mucocutaneous candidiasis and hypoparathyroidism fulfilled the criteria required for diagnosing APS-1. Her case, however, was made unique by her respiratory manifestations of frequent respiratory tract infections, which started around the age of 15 years, with a high-resolution CT scan (HRCT) revealing bronchiectasis, not commonly found amongst APS-1 patients. She was prescribed antibiotics for her respiratory tract infection exacerbations, oral calcium, vitamin D supplements, oral fluconazole, as well as an extensive eye care regimen. We report this case to add to the knowledge of this rare disease and look at its usual as well as unusual manifestations.