Severe inflammatory myopathy in a pulmonary carcinoma patient treated with Pembrolizumab: An alert for myologists

J Neuromuscul Dis. 2020;7(4):511-514. doi: 10.3233/JND-200504.

Abstract

Immune-related adverse events (irAE) during the administration of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) become more evident due to the increased use of these therapies. To remind the importance of early recognition of this phenomenon, we report a paradigmatic case characterized by severe systemic inflammatory myopathy and severe cardiac involvement that abruptly precipitated in an untoward ending after one single dose of Pembrolizumab.

Keywords: Pembrolizumab; immune-checkpoint inhibitors; immune-correlated adverse events; inflammatory myopathy; pulmonary carcinoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / adverse effects*
  • Carcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Myositis / drug therapy*
  • Myotoxicity / etiology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • pembrolizumab