Elisabetta Gambale, Camilla Tinari, Consiglia Carella, Alessandra Di Paolo and Michele De Tursi
The reported frequency of ipilimumab-induced hypophysitis (IIH), a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 antibody, ranges from 0 to 17%, in contrast to the rarity of idiopathic autoimmune hypophysitis that has an estimated incidence of one in nine million people per year.
Here we present the case of a patient with ipilimumab- induced hypophysitis (IIH). After his third course of ipilimumab, the patient began to present worsening asthenia and severe headache. A brain MRI scan showed the mild swelling of the anterior pituitary gland and thickening of the stalk. Haematological reports were consistent with hypophysitis diagnosis: in fact, ACTH and cortisol levels were very low. Then ipilimumab was interrupted and therapy with a large dose of glucocorticoids (dexamethasone) was promptly started. A rapid symptoms improvement was obtained by this therapeutic approach. The dose of dexamethasone was gradually decreased over 4 weeks and hydrocortisone replacement was started.
Development of IIH is associated with the risk of acute adrenal insufficiency or adrenal crisis, so early recognition and therapeutic intervention are extremely relevant. Furthermore, in the absence of data demonstrating clinical benefit from high-dose glucocorticoid therapy, we wondered if, in absence of symptoms such as visual disturbances or other life-threatening simultaneous irAEs in other organs, there is the indication to start with hydrocortisone replacement therapy alone from the beginning. We also wondered if it was reasonable to administer ipilimumab during prolonged high-dose glucocorticoid therapy. Thus, guidelines for surveillance and management of IH are highly required.
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