Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus triggered by sintilimab: a case report

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become a standard treatment for various cancers, but their use is often associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including cutaneous irAEs (cirAEs). Here, we report a rare case of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) induced by sintilim...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chenxi Zhang, Xiaoying Zhang, Jiali Liang, Yifei Liu, Jialong Chen, Qi Wang, Changxing Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1544312/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849715218157928448
author Chenxi Zhang
Xiaoying Zhang
Jiali Liang
Yifei Liu
Jialong Chen
Qi Wang
Changxing Li
Changxing Li
author_facet Chenxi Zhang
Xiaoying Zhang
Jiali Liang
Yifei Liu
Jialong Chen
Qi Wang
Changxing Li
Changxing Li
author_sort Chenxi Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become a standard treatment for various cancers, but their use is often associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including cutaneous irAEs (cirAEs). Here, we report a rare case of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) induced by sintilimab, a PD-1 inhibitor, in a 30-year-old woman undergoing neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy for gastric cancer. The patient presented with erythema, macules, papules, and vesicles, with positive ANA (108U/mL) and strongly positive anti-SSA/Ro. After discontinuation of sintilimab and treatment with corticosteroids, hydroxychloroquine, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), her symptoms improved. This case represents the first reported instance of drug-induced lupus caused by sintilimab and emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between paraneoplastic lupus and ICI-induced lupus.
format Article
id doaj-art-e5c0c96fe9f248c0bddc7994e65f1f53
institution DOAJ
issn 1664-3224
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Immunology
spelling doaj-art-e5c0c96fe9f248c0bddc7994e65f1f532025-08-20T03:13:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-04-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15443121544312Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus triggered by sintilimab: a case reportChenxi Zhang0Xiaoying Zhang1Jiali Liang2Yifei Liu3Jialong Chen4Qi Wang5Changxing Li6Changxing Li7Department of Dermatology, Southern Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Dermatology, Southern Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Dermatology, Southern Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Dermatology, Southern Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Dermatology, Southern Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Dermatology, Southern Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Dermatology, Southern Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaDepartment of Dermatology, the Tenth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University (Dongguan People’s Hospital), Dongguan, ChinaImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become a standard treatment for various cancers, but their use is often associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including cutaneous irAEs (cirAEs). Here, we report a rare case of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) induced by sintilimab, a PD-1 inhibitor, in a 30-year-old woman undergoing neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy for gastric cancer. The patient presented with erythema, macules, papules, and vesicles, with positive ANA (108U/mL) and strongly positive anti-SSA/Ro. After discontinuation of sintilimab and treatment with corticosteroids, hydroxychloroquine, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), her symptoms improved. This case represents the first reported instance of drug-induced lupus caused by sintilimab and emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between paraneoplastic lupus and ICI-induced lupus.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1544312/fullsintilimabPD-1 inhibitorimmune-related adverse eventssubacute cutaneous lupus erythematosusimmunotherapy
spellingShingle Chenxi Zhang
Xiaoying Zhang
Jiali Liang
Yifei Liu
Jialong Chen
Qi Wang
Changxing Li
Changxing Li
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus triggered by sintilimab: a case report
Frontiers in Immunology
sintilimab
PD-1 inhibitor
immune-related adverse events
subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus
immunotherapy
title Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus triggered by sintilimab: a case report
title_full Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus triggered by sintilimab: a case report
title_fullStr Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus triggered by sintilimab: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus triggered by sintilimab: a case report
title_short Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus triggered by sintilimab: a case report
title_sort subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus triggered by sintilimab a case report
topic sintilimab
PD-1 inhibitor
immune-related adverse events
subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus
immunotherapy
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1544312/full
work_keys_str_mv AT chenxizhang subacutecutaneouslupuserythematosustriggeredbysintilimabacasereport
AT xiaoyingzhang subacutecutaneouslupuserythematosustriggeredbysintilimabacasereport
AT jialiliang subacutecutaneouslupuserythematosustriggeredbysintilimabacasereport
AT yifeiliu subacutecutaneouslupuserythematosustriggeredbysintilimabacasereport
AT jialongchen subacutecutaneouslupuserythematosustriggeredbysintilimabacasereport
AT qiwang subacutecutaneouslupuserythematosustriggeredbysintilimabacasereport
AT changxingli subacutecutaneouslupuserythematosustriggeredbysintilimabacasereport
AT changxingli subacutecutaneouslupuserythematosustriggeredbysintilimabacasereport