Successful use of equine anti-thymocyte globulin (ATGAM) for fulminant myocarditis secondary to nivolumab therapy

Br J Cancer. 2017 Sep 26;117(7):921-924. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2017.253. Epub 2017 Aug 10.

Abstract

Background: Immune-mediated myocarditis is an uncommon adverse effect of immune checkpoint inhibition and is associated with a high rate of mortality.

Methods: In this reported case, a 64-year-old woman with right temporo-parietal glioblastoma IDH-WT was treated with nivolumab, temozolomide and radiation therapy on a clinical trial. She developed malignant arrhythmias secondary to histologically confirmed severe immune-mediated myocarditis. She was treated with equine anti-thymocyte globulin (ATGAM) due to development of malignant arrhythmias refractory to high-dose corticosteroids.

Results: This report describes the only case of immune-mediated myocarditis treated with ATGAM resulting in a favourable outcome.

Conclusions: Use of ATGAM should be considered in cases of steroid-refractory immune-mediated myocarditis and administered in close consultation with a cardiac transplant team experienced in the use of this agent.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects
  • Antilymphocyte Serum / therapeutic use*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Chemoradiotherapy
  • Dacarbazine / administration & dosage
  • Dacarbazine / analogs & derivatives
  • Female
  • Glioblastoma / therapy*
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocarditis / chemically induced*
  • Myocarditis / immunology
  • Myocarditis / therapy*
  • Nivolumab
  • Temozolomide

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antilymphocyte Serum
  • Nivolumab
  • Dacarbazine
  • Temozolomide