Type 1 diabetes mellitus induced by PD-1 inhibitors in China: a report of two cases

Abstract

The immune-related adverse events associated with immunotherapy may affect endocrine glands and other tissues. Two Chinese patients with malignancies were treated with programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors (nivolumab and pembrolizumab) and followed up with biochemical tests over 1 year. After PD-1 treatment for 6 to 10 months, the patients developed symptoms of diabetes, ketoacidosis, and insulin secretion failure. Type 1 diabetes mellitus was confirmed by the characteristic fluctuation of blood glucose that was controlled with multiple daily insulin injections. Neither patient’s insulin depletion status was reversed in subsequent years. To decrease the life-threatening complications of diabetic hyperosmolar syndrome and ketoacidosis caused by type 1 diabetes mellitus, it is necessary to monitor the blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c levels. Islet β-cell autoantibodies and human leukocyte antigen genes can provide additional information in select cases.