Relapse of lupus nephritis induced by nivolumab in an 84-year-old patient with oral cancer: a case report

Abstract

Various immunity-related adverse events have been reported to be associated with the inhibition of programmed cell death receptor 1. We report a rare case of a relapse of lupus nephritis (LN), involving rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, which was induced by nivolumab treatment in a patient with oral cancer. The patient had a history of systemic lupus erythematosus and underwent treatment with steroids, rituximab, and plasmapheresis. However, her renal function did not improve, and she died of multiple organ failure. To our knowledge, this is the first description of severe LN induced by nivolumab.