Case with Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Caused by Pembrolizumab

Authors

Khaled M. Darwesh, Internal Medicine, Providence ST. Peter Hospital, Olympia, WA, USAFollow
Bushra Amer, Internal Medicine, Berkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield, MA, USA,
Lateefah D. Hawshab, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Ahmed Mahir Hospital, Cairo, EGY,
Fatima D Hawshab, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sixth of October Hospital, Cairo, EGY,

Abstract

Nowadays, checkpoint inhibitors play a major role in the management of different types of cancers. However, we have seen variants of immune therapy-related adverse events, which usually are variables from fatigue, to neuropathy to severe devastating complications such as respiratory failure due to myasthenia gravis (MG), as we saw in our case. Our patient was started on pembrolizumab, and they developed severe respiratory failure attributed to MG after three weeks from treatment initiation. Also, the patient presented with myositis, mild myocarditis and hepatitis, which were all related to pembrolizumab.

Recommended Citation

Darwesh, Khaled M.; Amer, Bushra; Hawshab, Lateefah D.; and Hawshab, Fatima D (2025) "Case with Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Caused by Pembrolizumab," Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives: Vol. 15: Iss. 3, Article 9.
DOI: 10.55729/2000-9666.1486
Available at: https://scholarlycommons.gbmc.org/jchimp/vol15/iss3/9