Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in a patient treated with trastuzumab-deruxtecan

BMJ Case Rep. 2023 Feb 20;16(2):e253647. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2022-253647.

Abstract

Trastuzumab-deruxtecan (T-DXd) is a novel antibody drug conjugate that has improved treatment outcomes in patients with ERBB2-positive cancer, including locally advanced or metastatic gastric and gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. One of the reported side effects of this medication is drug-induced pneumonitis. We present in this case report, a diagnostic dilemma of a patient presenting with clinical and radiographical features of drug-induced pneumonitis but was found to have pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP). Our case is the first of PJP in a patient treated with T-DXd, highlighting the increasing incidence of this opportunistic infection in patients with solid malignancy. It also highlights the clinical and radiographical similarities between the PJP and drug-induced pneumonitis.

Keywords: Interstitial lung disease; Malignant disease and immunosuppression; Oesophageal cancer; Pneumonia (infectious disease); Respiratory system.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunoconjugates*
  • Opportunistic Infections* / chemically induced
  • Opportunistic Infections* / diagnosis
  • Opportunistic Infections* / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis* / chemically induced
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis* / diagnosis
  • Pneumonia, Pneumocystis* / drug therapy
  • Trastuzumab / adverse effects

Substances

  • Immunoconjugates
  • Trastuzumab