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Successful management of chronic eosinophilic pneumonia triggered by immune checkpoint inhibitor: a case report and literature review

Yasuhito Suzuki, Junpei Saito, Satoshi Kubota, M. Ikeda, M. Rikimaru, Ryuki Yamada, Takahiro Kumanaka, Ryutaro Tanaka et al.

Frontiers in Immunology, 2025

3 citations

Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) enhance antitumor immunity by blocking inhibitory immune signals, but can lead to immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Therefore, effective management of irAEs is crucial during ICI therapy. We report the case of a 50-year-old man who was referred to our department due to cough and abnormal chest shadows. He was diagnosed with hypopharyngeal cancer, and underwent chemoradiotherapy, resulting in complete remission. However, metastatic tumors were detected, and partial lung resection was performed. After one-year, new metastatic tumors and pleural dissemination were identified. Therefore, treatment with pembrolizumab was initiated. After the treatment with pembrolizumab, chest imaging revealed ground-glass opacity (GGO). Laboratory tests showed elevated eosinophils, and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). The findings of bronchoscopy revealed eosinophilic infiltration and intraluminal fibrosis, consistent with chronic eosinophilic pneumonia (EP). Based on these findings, he was diagnosed with pembrolizumab-induced chronic EP. Pembrolizumab was temporarily discontinued, and oral corticosteroids (OCS) were initiated. After the treatment of OCS, his symptoms and GGO were dramatically improved. Subsequently, pembrolizumab was resumed, and the hypopharyngeal cancer remains stable without recurrence of EP. This report presents the first pembrolizumab-induced chronic EP during treatment for hypopharyngeal cancer. The chronic EP was…

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