Rubio-Perez J, Rodríguez-Perez ÁR, Díaz-Blázquez M, Moreno-García V, Dómine-Gómez M. Treatment-related hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis due to atezolizumab: a case report and review of the literature.
J Med Case Rep 2022;
16:365. [PMID:
36195892 PMCID:
PMC9531226 DOI:
10.1186/s13256-022-03585-3]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Immune checkpoint inhibitors avoid inhibition of T-cell responses, upregulating antitumor immune response. Moreover, a dysregulation with hyperactive immune response can be caused, some of them underdiagnosed. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare and often fatal syndrome of uncontrolled and ineffective hyperinflammatory response that triggers an inflammatory cascade that can lead in many cases to death.
Case presentation
We report the case of a 67-year-old Caucasian man with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma who developed hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis after initiation of atezolizumab, an antagonist of programmed death-ligand 1. Even with early diagnosis and proper treatment, death occurs in approximately half of all cases reported.
Conclusion
Key markers are needed to better identify patients at risk of developing severe immune-related adverse events. In addition to key markers, a higher degree of suspicion and early intervention are needed to improve outcomes in acquired hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, especially with the increasingly and expanding use of immune activation.
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