Two cases of lung cancer with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors

Abstract

Abstract We report the cases of two patients with secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors, who were diagnosed using the recently developed HScore. The first patient presented with fever, cytopenia, and elevated liver enzyme levels at 46 days post‐pembrolizumab administration. The HScore was 175. The second patient developed an immune‐related adverse event at 30 days after the final pembrolizumab dose. The HScore was 185. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis was confirmed in both patients, and corticotherapy improved their condition. It is challenging to diagnose hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, particularly after development at a late stage. Our patients developed hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis late after immune checkpoint inhibitor administration. However, the HScore enabled us to diagnose both cases precisely and in a timely manner.

Keywords

• Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis; Hscore
• hyperferritinemia
• immune checkpoint inhibitor
• lung adenocarcinoma