Lateral uveitis induced by pembrolizumab in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: A case report

Abstract

Background: Pembrolizumab has been approved for the treatment of programmed cell death-1 ligand-1 (PD-L1 (-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, broad symptoms of immunerelated adverse events (irAEs) have been reported, with uveitis one reported symptom, although its frequency is low. Case: A 52-year-old woman was treated with pembrolizumab for strongly PD-Ll-positive NSCLC as the firstline chemotherapy. On day 9, she complained of pain and conjunctival injection of the left eye. Given her lateral symptoms, infection was suspected, and levofloxacin ophthalmic solution was administered. However, the symptoms did not improve, and she was subsequently diagnosed with uveitis caused by pembrolizumab. The administration of topical corticosteroid was initiated, and the uveitis was successfully treated. Conclusion: The possibility of uveitis as an irAE should be suspected in patients presenting with eye symptoms during immunotherapy treatment, even if the symptoms are lateral.