American Diabetes Association, Diabetes Care, 10(42), p. 2008-2010, 2019
DOI: 10.2337/dc18-2535
Endocrine Abstracts, 2019
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OBJECTIVE Anti–programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD-1) antibodies have revolutionized advanced cancer therapy. Anti-PD-1 therapy is responsible for immune-related adverse events, with frequent endocrine manifestations, including acute-onset type 1 diabetes. Acquired generalized lipodystrophy (AGL) is a rare disease, believed to be immune mediated, characterized by loss of adipose tissue and insulin resistance–associated complications. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We describe the first reported case of AGL induced by immune checkpoint therapy. RESULTS A 62-year-old woman with metastatic melanoma treated with nivolumab was referred for major hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. She had presented with a rapidly progressive generalized loss of subcutaneous adipose tissue. Diabetes was associated with severe insulin resistance and undetectable plasma leptin. Subcutaneous biopsy revealed atrophic adipose tissue infiltrated with cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes and fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS AGL is an additional immune-related adverse event of anti-PD-1 therapy that leads to severe insulin resistance–associated complications.