A Case Report of a Multisystemic Immune-Related Adverse Event Caused by Sintilimab in Combination With Thymosin Alpha-1.

Clinical case reports2026PMID: 41669704

View on PubMed DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.72025

Plain Language Summary

This case report describes a nasopharyngeal cancer patient who developed serious multi-organ adverse effects including high fever, rash, lung swelling, and organ failure after receiving a PD-1 immunotherapy drug combined with thymosin alpha-1. The case highlights the risk of immune overactivation when combining immune checkpoint inhibitors with immunomodulators. It serves as a warning that clinicians should closely monitor patients receiving such combinations for signs of excessive immune responses.

Abstract

To report a case of a nasopharyngeal carcinoma patient who developed multisystem immune-related adverse events (irAEs) after treatment with sintilimab (PD-1 inhibitor) in combination with thymosin alpha-1 (Tα1). The patient presents with high fever, rash, interstitial pulmonary edema, and multiple organ failure. By analyzing the course of treatment and regression, the risks and management strategies of combining immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with immunomodulators are discussed in the light of the literature. This highlights the need for clinical vigilance against possible immune overactivation triggered by combination therapy.

Authors

Li, Ting; Wu, Bao-Liang; Yu, Cai-Long; Jin, Liang-Yan

Keywords

combination immunotherapyimmune‐related adverse eventssintilimabthymosin alpha‐1