Successful Bevacizumab Therapy in a 25-Year-Old Patient with Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis

Abstract

Background: Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a chronic condition caused primarily by human papilloma virus (HPV) types 6 and 11, leading to recurrent growths in the respiratory tract. These types of papilloma can cause significant morbidity due to airway obstruction, often requiring frequent surgical interventions. Traditional treatments, including surgical removal and adjunctive therapies like antivirals and immune modulators, often fail to prevent recurrence, impacting the patient's quality of life.

Case description: This report presents a 25-year-old female with a long-standing history of RRP, diagnosed at age 2. Despite numerous interventions, including CO₂ laser ablations, interferon therapy, HPV vaccination, and a laryngotomy with tracheal reconstruction, the patient continued to experience severe airway obstruction requiring frequent surgeries. In 2023, intravenous therapy with bevacizumab, vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor was introduced, leading to a significant reduction in the frequency of surgical interventions from 8 to 4 per year. This reduction improved the patient's respiratory function and quality of life, highlighting bevacizumab's therapeutic potential.

Conclusion: The case underscores the debilitating nature of RRP and the challenges of its management. Bevacizumab, by targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), has shown promise in reducing papilloma growth and the need for frequent surgeries. This case supports the inclusion of bevacizumab as an adjunctive therapy in RRP treatment, warranting further research to confirm its long-term efficacy and safety.

Learning points: Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is a rare and complex disease that severely impacts patients' quality of life.This case report demonstrates that bevacizumab can significantly reduce surgical interventions in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), offering a promising treatment that improves management of this chronic condition.Bevacizumab, already used in treating various diseases by targeting VEGF, shows promise in managing RRP as well, highlighting its potential across multiple conditions and expanding its therapeutic versatility.

Keywords: Respiratory papillomatosis; VEGF; bevacizumab; bronchoscopy.

Figure 1

Papillomatous tissue in the trachea.

Figure 2

Computed tomography scan of the patients’ lungs, showing multiple cystic lesions.

Figure 3

Papillomatous tissue in the trachea below silicone stent.