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Bilateral acute anterior uveitis: a rare ocular side effect of erlotinib

Sarah Chan1, Elizabeth Ahern2,3, Sarah Chaudhry4

  • 1Ophthalmology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, Queensland, Australia nahcharas@hotmail.com.

BMJ Case Reports
|December 18, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Erlotinib, used for non-small cell lung cancer, can rarely cause acute anterior uveitis (AAU). Prompt ophthalmic assessment is crucial for patients experiencing visual changes during EGFR-blocking therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Erlotinib is a first-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  • Ocular toxicities are known adverse effects of erlotinib, but acute anterior uveitis (AAU) is a rare reported complication.

Observation:

  • A case report details a 67-year-old non-smoker with stage IV NSCLC presenting with decreased vision and floaters six weeks after starting erlotinib.
  • The patient was diagnosed with bilateral AAU attributed to erlotinib therapy.

Findings:

  • This represents the fifth documented case of erlotinib-associated bilateral AAU since 2010, emphasizing its rarity.
  • The case highlights a potential, albeit uncommon, adverse effect of erlotinib on ocular health.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should consider AAU in patients on EGFR-blocking therapies presenting with ophthalmic symptoms.
  • Timely ophthalmic evaluation is essential to prevent significant ocular damage in patients receiving erlotinib.
Keywords:
anterior chamberlung cancer (oncology)oncologyophthalmologyunwanted effects / adverse reactions

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