Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related pneumonitis induced by camrelizumab: a case report and review of literature.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are new agents that are efficacious in a variety of cancers. However, they are associated with immune-related adverse events due to activated immune system. Among them, checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis (CIP) deserves more special attentions, because diagnosis and therapy are still challengeable. camrelizumab is a programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor that was developed by Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co. CIP that is induced by camrelizumab was rarely reported. We described a case that a patient developed CIP 12 days later after one dose of camrelizumab. A 60-year-old man with advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma received 6 cycles of Tislelizumab/placebo, capecitabine and cisplatin first. Owing to the poor control of the disease, the patient used Nimotuzumab and docetaxel on April 3, 2020 and April 24, 2020, respectively. Later, he obtained the combination of 200 mg of camrelizumab and 140 mg of docetaxel regimen for once on May 14, 2020. After 12 days, he was diagnosed with CIP in Outpatient. Multiple ground glass opacities were revealed in bilateral lungs from routine CT examination. After giving 40 mg of prednisolone orally once a day, his CIP improved. Meanwhile, camrelizumab was not used again. Teaching point: same as other PD-1 inhibitors, camrelizumab can also cause immune-related pneumonitis. Close observation, regular CT examination and timely corticosteroids intervention are essential.