Early onset drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome with lymphopenia, hepatitis, and normal eosinophils induced by BRAF/MEK inhibitor after immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy

Dermatol Online J. 2022 Jan 15;28(1). doi: 10.5070/D328157062.

Abstract

Targeted therapy (BRAF/MEK inhibitors) is frequently employed in the treatment of metastatic melanoma following immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy inefficacy or intolerance. Although BRAF inhibitors are commonly associated with cutaneous eruptions, they rarely cause severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions such as drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS). Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome is a severe drug reaction characterized by extensive eruption often seen in conjunction with fever, facial edema, lymphadenopathy, eosinophilia, atypical lymphocytosis, and variable visceral organ injury characteristically beginning 2-8 weeks after initiating the causative drug. We report a case of atypical DIHS with reduced latency, mucosal involvement, lymphopenia, normal eosinophils, and no lymphadenopathy that occurred secondary to vemurafenib and cobimetinib therapy following melanoma progression while on pembrolizumab. Previous immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy has been associated with atypical DIHS in patients on BRAF/MEK inhibitors. Early recognition of the atypical clinical features of this hypersensitivity reaction is important so that drug discontinuation and corticosteroids can be initiated early.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Drug Hypersensitivity Syndrome* / drug therapy
  • Drug Hypersensitivity Syndrome* / etiology
  • Eosinophils / pathology
  • Hepatitis* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Lymphopenia* / chemically induced
  • Lymphopenia* / drug therapy
  • Melanoma* / pathology
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / therapeutic use
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
  • Skin Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • BRAF protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases