Anti-programmed cell death-1 therapy-associated bullous disorders: a systematic review of the literature

Abstract

Bullous disorders are rare adverse events associated with anti-programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD1) therapy. This paper presents two new cases of bullous disorders under anti-PD1 therapy and systematically reviewed the literature to foster a better understanding of the presentation and pathogenesis of bullous disorders under anti-PD1. A systematic review of the literature was completed using MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed and LILACS databases. We identified 29 cases of bullous disorders under anti-PD1 therapy, including our two new cases. This includes 18 cases of bullous pemphigoid (BP), five cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN)/Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) spectrum, one case of erythema multiforme (EM), four cases of bullous lichenoid reactions and one case of vesiculobullous eczema. In BP, blistering occurred by a median of 23 weeks after anti-PD1 therapy initiation and is often preceded by a prodrome, which lasts for a median of 9.5 weeks. Limbs and trunk were the most frequently involved body sites. Most cases (76%) achieved remission. In TEN/SJS/EM, blistering was usually preceded by a prodrome of interface dermatitis that lasted for a median of 1.5 weeks. Most cases (80%) died from either TEN/SJS or disease progression. Bullous disorders under anti-PD1 may be classified clinically as BP, SJS/TEN/EM, bullous lichenoid reactions and vesiculobullous eczema and histologically by intraepidermal splitting and subepidermal splitting. BP is usually preceded by a pruritic eruption and has a relatively good prognosis. SJS/TEN is usually preceded by a maculopapular eruption and has a very poor prognosis.