Nivolumab-induced pneumonitis and cardiopathy in a patient with relapsed Hodgkin's lymphoma

Abstract

Introduction

Nivolumab, the monoclonal antibody inhibitor of programmed cell death protein 1, enhances the T-cell response, including anti-tumour responses, by blocking the attachment of programmed death-ligand 1 and programmed death-ligand 2 ligands to the programmed cell death protein 1 receptor, which in turn leads to a reduction in tumour growth. Nivolumab has been approved in relapsed or refractory classic Hodgkin's lymphoma after autologous transplantation of haematopoietic stem cell and treatment with brentuximab as monotherapy.

Case report

We herewith report a case of 65-year-old woman who developed an interstitial pneumonitis and a global cardiac hypokinesis following a treatment with Nivolumab for a refractory Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Nivolumab was administered as the fifth line of therapy. Some concomitant patient treatments include drug with known autoimmune toxicities. Although the patient had a persistent complete remission following the sixth infusion, it was discontinued as she developed dyspnea of NYHA stage IV and orthopnea. The chest tomography revealed a bilateral micronodular pattern of organizing pneumonia with bilateral pleural effusion. The forced expiratory volume was decreased to 50%. In parallel her transthoracic echocardiography revealed a global hypokinesis with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 20%.

Management and outcome

The patient was treated with empiric antibiotics although the microbial assessments were negative. She was also treated with beta-blocker and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. The cardiac magnetic resonance imaging performed after 4 months confirmed the hypokinetic cardiopathy with an ejection fraction of 48%. The patient had a significant clinical improvement. The tomography emission positron scan conducted 8 months after interruption of Nivolumab showed complete remission with some moderate activation of residual lesion basal posterior lobe of left lung field.

Discussion

Early and effective diagnosis of immune-related adverse events through the search for predictive biomarkers like drug factors and individual risk factors will allow targeted surveillance leading to a better tolerance.