Acute liver injury leading to death in the setting of brentuximab vedotin monotherapy

Abstract

A 67-year-old man with an 11-year history of composite lymphoma was admitted with fevers in the context of neutropenia and acute liver injury, 4 months after the commencement of single-agent brentuximab vedotin. Fevers resolved with intravenous antibiotics, however, his liver function tests remained abnormal and he continued to be deeply jaundiced over the course of his 3-week illness. A liver screen failed to indicate a cause for his liver function test abnormalities and two separate liver biopsies were suggestive of drug-induced liver injury. There was no evidence on biopsy of lymphoma. After consultation with two hepatologists, trials of steroids and ursodeoxycholic acid were unsuccessful. Twenty-five days into admission, he became septic with a normal peripheral blood count and deteriorated rapidly. After discussion with the family, he was deemed not to be for further escalation of care, and he died within several hours. This report summarizes the evidence in relation to hepatotoxicity of brentuximab vedotin.