A Recurring Theme: A Rare Case of Pembrolizumab-Induced Acute Interstitial Nephritis

Authors

Jonathan London, Internal Medicine Resident at Long Island Community HospitalFollow
Sabrina Bulancea, Internal Medicine Resident at Long Island Community HospitalFollow
Inaas Shirazi, Internal Medicine Resident at Long Island Community HospitalFollow
Victoria Oriuwa, Internal Medicine Resident at Long Island Community HospitalFollow
Olena Bolotova, Nephrologist at Long Island Community HospitalFollow
Zubin Tharayil, Internal Medicine Program Director at Long Island Community HospitalFollow

Abstract

Pembrolizumab is utilized in the treatment of multiple different malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, endometrial cancer, and more. Pembrolizumab is an immune checkpoint inhibitor that inhibits the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) signaling pathway. Despite its benefits in treating multiple cancers, there are many reported adverse effects of Pembrolizumab affecting various organ systems; rarely it can cause acute interstitial nephritis (AIN). We present the case of a 79-year-old male with metastatic retroperitoneal squamous cell carcinoma who was found to have recurrent acute interstitial nephritis after pembrolizumab therapy.

Recommended Citation

London, Jonathan; Bulancea, Sabrina; Shirazi, Inaas; Oriuwa, Victoria; Bolotova, Olena; and Tharayil, Zubin (2024) "A Recurring Theme: A Rare Case of Pembrolizumab-Induced Acute Interstitial Nephritis," Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives: Vol. 14: Iss. 4, Article 13.
DOI: 10.55729/2000-9666.1362
Available at: https://scholarlycommons.gbmc.org/jchimp/vol14/iss4/13