Korean J Fam Med.  2016 Nov;37(6):351-355. 10.4082/kjfm.2016.37.6.351.

Afatinib-Induced Acute Fatal Pneumonitis in Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinoma

• Yoo SH
• Ryu JA
• Kim SR
• Oh SY
• Jung GS
• Lee DJ
• Kwak BG
• Nam YH
• Kim KH
• Yang YJ

• KMID: 2358754
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4082/kjfm.2016.37.6.351

Abstract

Afatinib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that inhibit Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2), and HER4. The common side effects of EGFR TKI are rash, acne, diarrhea, stomatitis, pruritus, nausea, and loss of appetite. Drug induced pneumonitis is the less common adverse effects of EGFR TKI. Afatinib, 2nd generation EGFR TKI is anticipated to overcome drug resistance from 1st generation EGFR TKI according to preclinical study, and several studies are being conducted to compare clinical efficacy between 1st and 2nd EGFR TKI. Several cases of rug induced acute fatal pneumonitis were reported after use of erlotinib or gefitinib. However, a case of acute fatal pneumonitis associated with afatinib was note reported except drug induced pneumonitis in other clinical study. Here, we present a cases of acute severe pneumonitis related with afatinib in metastatic lung adenocarcinoma with literature review.

Keyword

Afatinib; Acute Fatal Pneumonitis; Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinoma

MeSH Terms

Acne Vulgaris
Adenocarcinoma*
Appetite
Clinical Study
Diarrhea
Drug Resistance
Erlotinib Hydrochloride
Exanthema
Humans
Lung*
Nausea
Pneumonia*
Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
Pruritus
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor
Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
Stomatitis
Treatment Outcome
Erlotinib Hydrochloride
Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor
Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor