Dupilumab is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to IL-4 receptors and blocks IL-4 and IL-13 mediated T-helper 2 (Th2) responses. Dupilumab is estimated to be used by over 600,000 patients worldwide for the treatment of atopic dermatitis and other immunologic conditions. Recently, a 66-year-old male patient being treated for atopic dermatitis with dupilumab presented to the clinic with complaints of polyuria and polydipsia. Upon initial testing, the patient was found to have considerable hyperglycemia. Upon genetic testing, he showed no predisposition for autoimmune diabetes and was negative for type I diabetes mellitus-associated human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes. After immediate cessation of dupilumab, and with subsequent insulin therapy, the patient was able to obtain glycemic control. Following taper and eventual cessation of insulin therapy and over the course of seven months, the patient was able to achieve a full resolution of symptoms and his glycosylated hemoglobin (HgBA1c) levels returned to normal ranges. This case represents only the second documented case of dupilumab-induced diabetes mellitus and is the first known documented case of dupilumab-induced diabetes mellitus in a non-genetically predisposed individual. This case also describes a previously unobserved spontaneous resolution of symptoms upon cessation of the drug. This case further illustrates the potential existence of immunogenic or immunomodulatory side effects of the monoclonal antibody dupilumab that can affect patients who are both genetically and non-genetically predisposed to autoimmune diabetes mellitus.
Keywords: autoimmune disease; autoimmune type 1 diabetes mellitus; dupilumab; immunogenicity; monoclonal antibodies (mabs).
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