Nivolumab and Adverse Eye Events: A Case Report - Abstract
Background: Nivolumab is a human antibody used to treat several types of cancer, including renal cell carcinoma. We report the case of a man who developed bilateral anterior uveitis and retinal complications during treatment with nivolumab for metastatic renal cancer.Case Presentation: 77-year-old man treated with nivulomab for metastases of the right piriform sinus (lateral wall of the right pharynx), following pT2G2
clear cell renal cell carcinoma (right nephrectomy in 1999), and left renal cell carcinoma clear cell pT1G2 (left renal tumorectomy in 2007), developed a sudden bilateral deficit in visual acuity and painless bilateral redness of the eyes several days after the third administration of nivolumab (the first two fifteen days apart and the third after twenty-eight days). The examination showed a significant decrease in visual acuity (ODV:4/10,OSV:1/10). The slit lamp revealed the presence of bilateral granulomatous keratic precipitates, bilateral anterior synechiae cells. Cortical cataracts OU (OS>OD), were already present two years earlier. Discrete hypotony was present (10 mm Hg in OU). Infrared fundusoscopy, possible only in OD, revealed light papilledema, macular edema with subretinal deposits of granular appearance in the perimacular area and a round serous retinal detachment of 1 ½ diameter of the papilla in the superior temporal paramacular area. The Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), showed the presence in the macular area of a diffuse lamellar thickening with the appearance of a hyperreflective band at the level of the RPE and the formation of granules in the external segment of the photoreceptors, moderate subretinal subfoveal fluid. Infrared funduscopy and OCT of the OS they was scarcely available. Treatment with topical and oral corticosteroids was initiated and nivolumab was stopped. After 3 weeks the evolution was favorable with a decrease in ocular inflammation and treatment with oral corticosteroids was stopped after 4 weeks of treatment. The normalization of the OCT images and the improvement in visual acuity (ODV:5/10,OSV:2/10), were appreciated two months after the onset of the adverse event. Topical corticosteroid therapy was continued and nivolumab was restarted after two months of suspension and repetition for three cyclically every 28 days. There was no recurrence of bilateral uveitis and retinopathy. Conclusion: Ophthalmological manifestations following nivolumab should be rapidly recognized and adequately treated with oral and topical corticosteroids. Resumption of nivolumab is possible after previous adverse events wich don,t form an absolut contraindication to restarting the use of nivolumab.