A severe case of ipilimumab-induced guillain-barré syndrome revealed by an occlusive enteric neuropathy: a differential diagnosis for ipilimumab-induced colitis

Abstract

Ipilimumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody directed against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 recently approved for the treatment of metastatic melanoma and currently under investigation in the adjuvant setting of high-risk stage III melanoma. The blockade of CTLA-4 induces activation of T cells, with an expected increase in the immunological reaction directed to cancer. We report a case of ipilimumab-induced Guillain-Barré syndrome revealed by an occlusive enteric neuropathy. Two weeks after the second dose of ipilimumab, our patient started to complain of abdominal meteorism and nausea. Within a few days, an occlusive syndrome developed. Wall biopsies during colonoscopy revealed a slight edema of the mucosa and a high number of lymphocytic follicles, leading to the diagnosis of ipilimumab-induced immune colitis. A respiratory failure occurred and a neurological deficiency developed rapidly. The diagnosis of polyradiculoneuritis was retained. Despite IV steroids, tacrolimus than plasmatic exchanges, the patient died within a few days because of multivisceral failure. Polyradiculoneuritis is a rare but very severe immune-mediated complication of ipilimumab. Occlusive enteric neuropathy may mimic the digestive symptoms of colitis, which is so frequent under ipilimumab.