Acute-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus developing after administration of pembrolizumab: a case report

Abstract

A 76-year-old female received adjuvant chemotherapy following pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic cancer 17 months previously. One year later, CT scan revealed peritoneal dissemination and Pembrolizumab was given. Five months later, she developed hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis, which required intensive management including insulin in the ICU. She was diagnosed with acute-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus and discharged on hospital day 24 without complications. This patient serves as an important reminder to consider adverse events including type 1 diabetes mellitus when giving anti-programmed cell death protein-1 antibody.