Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases (Apr 2025)

Ocrelizumab-Related Organizing Pneumonia: A Rare Pulmonary Complication in Multiple Sclerosis

  • Neria Bitton,
  • Swetha Rayaroth,
  • Anuraj Mambazhathu Sudhakaran,
  • Eli Zolotov

DOI
https://doi.org/10.7326/aimcc.2024.1069
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 4

Abstract

Read online

We report a case of organizing pneumonia induced by ocrelizumab in a 65-year-old man with multiple sclerosis. The patient presented with persistent fever and progressive respiratory symptoms despite broad-spectrum antibiotic treatment. Chest imaging revealed diffuse ground-glass opacities, and a transbronchial biopsy confirmed organizing pneumonia. Corticosteroid therapy led to marked clinical improvement, and ocrelizumab was discontinued. This case highlights the importance of recognizing drug-induced organizing pneumonia in patients receiving immunomodulatory therapy, particularly when standard antibiotic treatments fail. Early identification and corticosteroid intervention are critical to avoid further complications.