Could immune-related hepatitis rapidly progress to immune-related cirrhosis?

Y.-N. Lei, X.-Y. Li, G. Gao, W.-Y. Wang, Z.-Y. Liang, Y.-S. Wang

Thoracic Oncology Ward, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. wangys@scu.edu.cn

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• Immunology

BACKGROUND: Immune-related hepatitis is one of the prevalent adverse events associated with immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). For patients without a history of liver disease, autoimmune disease, or alcohol consumption, it is not clear whether immune-related hepatitis could rapid progress to immune-related cirrhosis.

CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 54-year-old female with stage IIIB primary pulmonary lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (PLELC) diagnosed with immune-related hepatitis. After 15 months, a liver biopsy demonstrated the rapid progression of liver cirrhosis although systematic corticosteroid administration.

CONCLUSIONS: Long-term immune activation caused by ICIs may exacerbate the process of cirrhosis. Great attention should be paid to the rapid progression to liver cirrhosis of immune-related hepatitis in the clinic.

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