A case of lenalidomide-induced hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
BACKGROUND
Lenalidomide is a new immunomodulatory drug, FDA-approved for the treatment of the 5q-myelodysplastic syndrome and refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma (MM). Regarding the treatment of MM, there have been published cases of acute pulmonary toxicity for the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib and the immunomodulatory drug thalidomide; only 1 case of lenalidomide-induced pulmonary toxicity has been described in the literature.


METHODS
In our manuscript, we describe the clinical course and diagnostic workup of a 66-year-old male patient with MM on lenalidomide with signs of acute pulmonary toxicity. The diagnostic workup resulted in the diagnosis of drug-induced interstitial hypersensitivity pneumonitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Given the frequently reported pulmonary infectious complications in patients treated with lenalidomide and a possibly underreported rate of interstitial pneumonitis, we advocate a more aggressive pulmonary workup for patients with pulmonary symptoms.
Lerch
Erika
E
Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), Ospedale San Giovanni, Bellinzona, Switzerland. erika.lerch@eoc.ch
Györik
Sandor
S
Feilchenfeldt
Jonas
J
Mazzucchelli
Luca
L
Quadri
Franco
F
D000368:Aged; D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D000077269:Lenalidomide; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D013792:Thalidomide; D000077269:Lenalidomide