Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are becoming increasingly popular in treating cancers resistant to traditional chemotherapy. While ICIs have shown promise in treating cancer, the class of drugs also comes with certain risks, such as the development of pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) in rare cases. Pembrolizumab, an ICI that inhibits programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), has, in some rare instances, caused PI. Patients with ICI-induced PI may also present with pneumoperitoneum, pneumoretroperitoneum, pneumomediastinum, and pneumobilia. In the current report, we describe the presentation and management of a 50-year-old female with initial complaints of diffuse abdominal pain, constipation, abdominal distension, nausea, and decreased urine output approximately six months after beginning pembrolizumab and two months after the most recent dose of pembrolizumab. Subsequent CT imaging revealed massive PI with pneumoperitoneum, pneumoretroperitoneum, pneumomediastinum, and pneumobilia suspected to be secondary to pembrolizumab. Here, we discuss the possible mechanisms of ICI-induced PI and evaluate the management of patients presenting with PI and pneumoperitoneum.
Keywords: immune checkpoint inhibitor (ici); pneumatosis intestinalis; rare disease or condition; treatment or management challenges; unexpected events; unusual combination of conditions.
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