Concomitant Human Herpes Virus 6 and nivolumab-related pneumonitis: Potential pathogenetic insights
Periklis G. Foukas,
Sotirios Tsiodras,
Panagiota Economopoulou,
Aris Spathis,
Maria Mademli,
Konstantinos Leventakos,
Amanda Psyrri,
Petros Karakitsos,
Ioannis G. Panayiotides
Affiliations
Periklis G. Foukas
2nd Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
Sotirios Tsiodras
4th Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
Panagiota Economopoulou
Medical Oncology Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
Aris Spathis
Department of Cytopathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
Maria Mademli
2nd Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
Konstantinos Leventakos
2nd Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
Amanda Psyrri
Medical Oncology Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
Petros Karakitsos
Department of Cytopathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
Ioannis G. Panayiotides
2nd Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece
The development of immune system modulating agents, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has revolutionized cancer treatment. Nivolumab, a human monoclonal antibody against PD-1, has emerged as an efficient treatment for various malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, it is associated with important immune related side-effects, attributed to organ-specific inflammation, such as immune-mediated pneumonitis, a relatively uncommon, albeit potentially fatal adverse event. We herein present the unique case of severe interstitial pneumonitis with concomitant detection of Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV-6) in a nivolumab treated patient with NSCLC. Potential pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed.
