• Hiroshi Iesaka, Hiraku Kameda, Aika Miya, Hiroshi Nomoto, Kyu Yong Cho, Akinobu Nakamura, Takashige Abe, Nobuo Shinohara, and Tatsuya Atsumi.
• Department of Rheumatology, Endocrinology and Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine and Graduate School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
• Medicine (Baltimore). 2023 Dec 22; 102 (51): e36664e36664.

RationaleThe increasing use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for treating malignant tumors result in the concomitant rise of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). This case report may provide useful insight to understanding the etiology of ICI-induced hypophysitis, a severe irAE leading to potentially fatal secondary adrenal insufficiency.Patient ConcernsAn 81-year-old Japanese man was hospitalized for diabetic ketoacidosis following 4 courses of ICI combination therapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.DiagnosisInsulin secretion was depleted, leading to diagnosis of fulminant type 1 diabetes. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels were very high (60.8 pmol/L and 1575 nmol/L, respectively) upon admission. ACTH and cortisol returned to normal ranges on the 2nd day. On the 8th day, an ACTH loading test showed intact cortisol response (peak value 519 nmol/L). However, on the 14th day, there was a sharp decrease in ACTH and cortisol levels (10.5 pmol/L and 47 nmol/L, respectively) accompanied by fatigue and a drop in blood pressure to 97/63 mm Hg. As secondary adrenal insufficiency was suspected, hydrocortisone replacement was initiated. An ACTH loading test on the 17th day revealed low cortisol peak (peak value 232 nmol/L), indicating sudden disruption of adrenal function. Magnetic resonance imaging showed no abnormal findings and there was no other pituitary hormone deficiency. These findings, along with the patient clinical course, suggest that secondary adrenal insufficiency was caused by acute ACTH producing cell destruction as an irAE associated with ICI therapy.InterventionsThe patient hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis were treated using extracellular fluid and insulin therapy. After development of adrenal insufficiency, hydrocortisone 20 mg was started, and the patient symptoms improved.OutcomesHe was continued on insulin therapy, hydrocortisone, and reinitiated nivolumab.LessonsThis case provides a detailed course of the fulminant onset of ACTH deficiency during ICI administration, emphasizing the importance of close monitoring.Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

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