Immune checkpoint inhibitors are now the standard of care in the treatment of several types of
cancer. Cutaneous immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are usually of low grade and reversible, while endocrine irAEs are generally irreversible and managed with
hormone replacement therapy. We report a 47-year-old patient, treated with the anti-programmed cell death (PD)1 antibody
pembrolizumab for a metastatic
melanoma, who developed severe
lipodystrophy after 10 months of treatment, characterized by the loss of subcutaneous fat tissue,
central obesity and
insulin resistance with a decreased
leptin level. Histological analysis of a cutaneous biopsy revealed subcutaneous fat cell destruction associated with oedema, the presence of lipophages, and a CD3+ lymphocytic infiltrate involving the panniculus. This led to the diagnosis of anti-PD-1-induced acquired
generalized lipodystrophy, after ruling out differential diagnoses (i.e. genetic and systemic
autoimmune diseases). No
corticosteroids were introduced considering the high risk of inducing severe metabolic complications, and
pembrolizumab was discontinued as complete response of the
melanoma was achieved. However, after 12 months of follow-up,
lipodystrophy and its severe metabolic complications are still ongoing. What's already known about this topic? Anti-programmed cell death (PD)1 agents are now a standard of care in the treatment of several
cancers, including
melanoma. Endocrine and cutaneous immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are among the most frequent irAEs (14-30% and 30-40%, respectively) in patients treated with
immune checkpoint inhibitors. What does this study add? Acquired
generalized lipodystrophy can occur during anti-PD1
therapy and is associated with severe metabolic complications. With the increase in anti-PD1 prescription in several
cancer types, clinicians must be aware of the whole range of irAEs that may occur.