Intravenous immunoglobulin efficacy on pembrolizumab induced severe toxic epidermal necrolysis

Anticancer Drugs. 2022 Jan 1;33(1):e738-e740. doi: 10.1097/CAD.0000000000001162.

Abstract

Pembrolizumab is an immune checkpoint inhibitor used in many different cancers. Several immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have been associated with pembrolizumab, including toxic epidermal necrolysis. Here, we are presenting a patient with non-small cell lung cancer that developed toxic epidermal necrolysis 3-days following initiation of pembrolizumab. Following high-dose steroid therapy, intravenous immunoglobulin 2 g/kg was initiated and resulted in complete resolution of all his irAEs. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of total re-epithelialization and resolution of immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis following the use of intravenous immunoglobulin.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / therapeutic use
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use*
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Male
  • Patient Acuity
  • Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / drug therapy*

Substances

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