Unusual severe gastritis and gastric ulcers caused by pembrolizumab

doi:10.4103/jpgm.JPGM_1132_20

Paper

Unusual severe gastritis and gastric ulcers caused by pembrolizumab

Published Jun 9, 2021 · WT Liu, YF Li, TY Hsieh

Journal of Postgraduate Medicine

5

Citations

1

Influential Citations

Full textSemantic Scholar

Abstract

Pembrolizumab (an immune checkpoint inhibitor)-related gastritis and gastric ulcers are rare immune-related adverse events, which are insufficiently treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) therapy alone, and usually require systemic steroid therapy and even other biological agents (such as infliximab) in severe cases. Here, we report a case of 49-years-old woman suffering from gastritis and gastric ulcers after pembrolizumab treatment, which was refractory to 2 months of PPI therapy. The diagnosis was made by the clinical and histopathologic presentations. She had immediate resolution of abdominal symptoms after initiation of steroid treatment, but the gastritis and gastric ulcers improved slowly and lasted for months as shown in endoscopy. She was finally treated with extended steroid therapy without serious complications. We discuss the latest treatment options and our management strategies of the case.

Case Report

Rigorous Journal

Study Snapshot

Pembrolizumab-related gastritis and gastric ulcers require extended steroid therapy for treatment, as they are rare and refractory to proton pump inhibitors alone.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

Unusual severe gastritis and gastric ulcers caused by pembrolizumab

References

Citations