Camrelizumab-Related Lethal Arrhythmias and Myasthenic Crisis in a Patient with Metastatic Thymoma

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged in recent years as promising treatment options for several malignant tumors. However, ICI therapy has also been associated with various immune-related adverse events (irAEs), especially for patients with preexisting autoimmune status, which sometimes...

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Main Authors: Bo Zhang, Laxman Gyawali, Zengzhang Liu, Huaan Du, Yuehui Yin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Cardiology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/4042909
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author Bo Zhang
Laxman Gyawali
Zengzhang Liu
Huaan Du
Yuehui Yin
author_facet Bo Zhang
Laxman Gyawali
Zengzhang Liu
Huaan Du
Yuehui Yin
author_sort Bo Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged in recent years as promising treatment options for several malignant tumors. However, ICI therapy has also been associated with various immune-related adverse events (irAEs), especially for patients with preexisting autoimmune status, which sometimes can be life-threatening. A 68-year-old woman diagnosed with metastatic thymoma was treated with camrelizumab, a new ICI, as her antitumor protocol. Eleven days after the first dose of camrelizumab, the patient was admitted to our hospital with symptoms of dyspnea, fatigue, and poor appetite. Workups on admission indicated dramatically elevated transaminase, troponin I, creatine kinase, and a new-onset conduction abnormality on electrocardiography. After detailed evaluation, ICI-related myocarditis, myositis, and hepatitis were diagnosed, and therapies including intravenous methylprednisolone were administered. Coronary angiography was performed to exclude acute coronary syndrome due to dynamic electrocardiography changes on day 3. She lapsed into a coma with respiratory muscle failure on the next day, which was highly suspected of myasthenic crisis. Mechanical ventilation and higher dose of methylprednisolone plus intravenous immunoglobulin were applied immediately. However, the third atrioventricular block occurred within the same day, and an urgent temporary pacemaker was placed. More seriously, refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT) occurred subsequently, and even multiple antiarrhythmic drugs used in combination failed to alleviate the VT storm. On day 5 of hospitalization, she suffered from ventricular fibrillation and died of cardiac arrest. In clinical practice, close follow-up should be conducted after ICI treatment, especially for patients already with or at high risk for autoimmune disorders. A multidisciplinary team approach is of importance for better management of patients with multiple organ involvement.
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spelling doaj-art-425a6093b74a4897b2aa917f317823622025-02-03T06:11:50ZengWileyCase Reports in Cardiology2090-64122022-01-01202210.1155/2022/4042909Camrelizumab-Related Lethal Arrhythmias and Myasthenic Crisis in a Patient with Metastatic ThymomaBo Zhang0Laxman Gyawali1Zengzhang Liu2Huaan Du3Yuehui Yin4Department of CardiologyDepartment of CardiologyDepartment of CardiologyDepartment of CardiologyDepartment of CardiologyImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged in recent years as promising treatment options for several malignant tumors. However, ICI therapy has also been associated with various immune-related adverse events (irAEs), especially for patients with preexisting autoimmune status, which sometimes can be life-threatening. A 68-year-old woman diagnosed with metastatic thymoma was treated with camrelizumab, a new ICI, as her antitumor protocol. Eleven days after the first dose of camrelizumab, the patient was admitted to our hospital with symptoms of dyspnea, fatigue, and poor appetite. Workups on admission indicated dramatically elevated transaminase, troponin I, creatine kinase, and a new-onset conduction abnormality on electrocardiography. After detailed evaluation, ICI-related myocarditis, myositis, and hepatitis were diagnosed, and therapies including intravenous methylprednisolone were administered. Coronary angiography was performed to exclude acute coronary syndrome due to dynamic electrocardiography changes on day 3. She lapsed into a coma with respiratory muscle failure on the next day, which was highly suspected of myasthenic crisis. Mechanical ventilation and higher dose of methylprednisolone plus intravenous immunoglobulin were applied immediately. However, the third atrioventricular block occurred within the same day, and an urgent temporary pacemaker was placed. More seriously, refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT) occurred subsequently, and even multiple antiarrhythmic drugs used in combination failed to alleviate the VT storm. On day 5 of hospitalization, she suffered from ventricular fibrillation and died of cardiac arrest. In clinical practice, close follow-up should be conducted after ICI treatment, especially for patients already with or at high risk for autoimmune disorders. A multidisciplinary team approach is of importance for better management of patients with multiple organ involvement.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/4042909
spellingShingle Bo Zhang
Laxman Gyawali
Zengzhang Liu
Huaan Du
Yuehui Yin
Camrelizumab-Related Lethal Arrhythmias and Myasthenic Crisis in a Patient with Metastatic Thymoma
Case Reports in Cardiology
title Camrelizumab-Related Lethal Arrhythmias and Myasthenic Crisis in a Patient with Metastatic Thymoma
title_full Camrelizumab-Related Lethal Arrhythmias and Myasthenic Crisis in a Patient with Metastatic Thymoma
title_fullStr Camrelizumab-Related Lethal Arrhythmias and Myasthenic Crisis in a Patient with Metastatic Thymoma
title_full_unstemmed Camrelizumab-Related Lethal Arrhythmias and Myasthenic Crisis in a Patient with Metastatic Thymoma
title_short Camrelizumab-Related Lethal Arrhythmias and Myasthenic Crisis in a Patient with Metastatic Thymoma
title_sort camrelizumab related lethal arrhythmias and myasthenic crisis in a patient with metastatic thymoma
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/4042909
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