Nivolumab-induced Hypophysitis, Secondary Adrenal Insufficiency and Destructive Thyroiditis in a Patient with Lung Adenocarcinoma

Intern Med. 2019 Mar 1;58(5):693-697. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.1268-18. Epub 2018 Nov 19.

Abstract

Nivolumab-induced multiple organ immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have been described in some case reports. The symptoms of endocrinological irAEs are especially nonspecific. A 63-year-old man with a postoperative recurrence of pulmonary adenocarcinoma who was treated with nivolumab presented fever, anorexia and fatigue after the 7th cycle. He underwent a rapid adrenocorticotrophic hormone test, four-hormone tolerance test and thyroid gland scintigraphy. The results were consistent with destructive thyroiditis, hypophysitis and secondary adrenal insufficiency. Nivolumab was restarted following glucocorticoid and thyroid hormone replacement treatment. When a patient presents nonspecific symptoms, the possibility of endocrinological irAEs should be considered as it may enable their early detection.

Keywords: destructive thyroiditis; hypophysitis; lung adenocarcinoma; nivolumab; secondary adrenal insufficiency.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / drug therapy*
  • Adrenal Insufficiency / chemically induced*
  • Adrenal Insufficiency / diagnosis
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Hypophysitis / chemically induced*
  • Hypophysitis / diagnosis
  • Lung Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / drug therapy
  • Nivolumab / adverse effects*
  • Nivolumab / therapeutic use
  • Thyroiditis / chemically induced*
  • Thyroiditis / diagnosis

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • Nivolumab
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone