Pneumonitis and concomitant bacterial pneumonia in patients receiving pembrolizumab treatment: Three case reports and literature review

Jiho Jun, Sang Ryung Lee, Ji Yean Lee, Min Joo Choi, Ji Yun Noh, Hee Jin Cheong, Woo Joo Kim, Joon Young Song

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    8 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    RATIONALE: Pembrolizumab, a monoclonal antibody against the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) protein, can induce a stable regression of some malignancies refractory to conventional chemotherapy. Despite such therapeutic benefits, pembrolizumab can induce immune-related adverse events, with pneumonitis being the most critical problem. PATIENT CONCERNS: All 3 patients complained of fever, cough, and dyspnea after a variable time interval (1-21 days) from pembrolizumab treatment. DIAGNOSES: Chest computed tomography invariably showed ground glass opacity. All tests for possible infectious agents were negative. Based on high procalcitonin level, one of 3 patients was diagnosed to have accompanying bacterial pneumonia. INTERVENTIONS: All patients received antibiotics and steroid treatments (methylprednisolone, 1 mg/kg). OUTCOMES: The 3 patients showed different clinical courses ranging from mild pneumonitis to rapidly progressing respiratory failure. Among the 3 patients, 2 fully recovered with steroid treatment; 1 died from superimposed bacterial pneumonia. LESSONS: The prognosis of pembrolizumab-induced pneumonitis with a superimposed bacterial pneumonia would be poor. It is important to distinguish pure pneumonitis from that with a superimposed bacterial pneumonia.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)e16158
    JournalMedicine
    Volume98
    Issue number25
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2019 Jun 1

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Medicine(all)

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