To describe a case of CIDP as a side effect of Brentuximab.

Brentuximab is a therapeutic agent for relapsed and refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other CD30+ lymphomas. Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a well-known side effect of Brentuximab, occurring in 36-53% of the patients, and is considered to be severe neuropathy in 10-14% of  patients. Patients with Brentuximab-induced peripheral neuropathy (BINP) typically have a symmetric, sensorimotor axonal neuropathy. Our patient had demyelinating neuropathy following Brentuximab treatment.

A 48-year old man with Hodgkin’s lymphoma presented with weakness and numbness. His oncologic history included radiation treatment and 6 cycles of ABVD during initial diagnosis. Fifteen years later, he had nodal progression on PET scan with biopsy confirmation, and underwent 3 cycles of salvage ICE therapy. Patient then received stem cell transplantation with CBV conditioning and post-transplant maintenance with one year of Brentuximab infusions. During the same month he completed Brentuximab, he developed bilateral upper and lower extremity weakness, and areflexia. MRI C-spine revealed brachial plexus root thickening, nerve conduction studies revealed a predominantly demyelinating neuropathy with conduction block and temporal dispersion, electromyography revealed fibrillations in nearly all muscles tested, and lumbar puncture revealed albuminocytologic dissociation, all of which were consistent with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP).

The patient received IVIG and physical therapy, with full recovery of muscle strength. He is no longer taking Brentuximab, and his most recent PET scan was negative for further disease.