Pembrolizumab-Induced Autoimmune Hepatitis

    October 2018 in “ ˜The œAmerican journal of gastroenterology ”
    Marianna G. Mavilia, Ayushi Chauhan
    TLDR Pembrolizumab can cause serious liver issues, requiring close monitoring and early treatment.
    Pembrolizumab, a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor, can cause autoimmune hepatitis (IMH) in 0.7% of patients. An 84-year-old male with stage 4 bladder cancer developed IMH after pembrolizumab treatment, presenting with nausea, fever, and elevated liver enzymes. Despite treatment with prednisone, his condition worsened, leading to respiratory complications and death. This case highlighted the importance of early detection and monitoring of IMH, as timely steroid treatment might have prevented severe outcomes. As PD-1 inhibitors become more common, IMH is expected to increase in prevalence.
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