Background: Respiratory alemtuzumab-related adverse events are clinically heterogeneous and include respiratory infections, infusion-related dyspnea, hypoxia and secondary autoimmune disorders.
Case report: Here we report three cases of drug-induced lung disease following treatment with alemtuzumab in multiple sclerosis patients. First case was diagnosed as a non-specified intestitial pneumonitis associated with organizing pneumonia with subacute onset, second case was an acute respiratory distress syndrome with onset during second cycle, third case was a diffuse acute alveolar hemorrhage during first cycle infusion. All patients developed acute respiratory failure, reversible after steroid therapy.
Conclusions: Clinicians should be aware to early recognize acute and subacute respiratory adverse events for a promptly management. In these patients re-treatment is challenging.
Keywords: Acute respiratory distress syndrome; Diffuse alveolar haemorrhage; Interstitial pneumonitis; Personalized medicine; Pulmonary toxicity.
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