A case of pembrolizumab-induced hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis successfully treated with pulse glucocorticoid therapy

Treatments using immune checkpoint inhibitors such as pembrolizumab lead to immune mediated adverse effects including hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Herein, we present a case where HLH developed after pembrolizumab administration, which was treated using high dose prednisolone. He develop...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hidenori Takahashi, Tomohiro Koiwa, Akira Fujita, Takayuki Suzuki, Amane Tagashira, Yoshinobu Iwasaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2020-01-01
Series:Respiratory Medicine Case Reports
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221300712030174X
Description
Summary:Treatments using immune checkpoint inhibitors such as pembrolizumab lead to immune mediated adverse effects including hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Herein, we present a case where HLH developed after pembrolizumab administration, which was treated using high dose prednisolone. He developed high-grade fever complicated with liver dysfunction and diarrhea 7 days after pembrolizumab administration. Although treatment with oral prednisolone alleviated the symptoms, other adverse effects arose owing to a tapered prednisolone dose. Hyperferritinemia suggested the diagnosis of HLH and met the criteria for HLH diagnosis. He was thus administered intravenous pulses of methylprednisolone followed by high-dose oral prednisolone, which resolved these symptoms.
ISSN:2213-0071