Bilateral Corneal Graft Rejection Associated With Pembrolizumab Treatment

To report the first case of corneal graft rejection presumably associated with pembrolizumab immunotherapy.

Case report and literature review.

An asymptomatic 85-year-old woman with a history of bilateral penetrating keratoplasty presented for a follow-up visit with bilateral diffuse keratic precipitates and subepithelial infiltrates. There were no anterior chamber cells. Bilateral subclinical corneal graft rejection was suspected. Three months previously, pembrolizumab immunotherapy was started for a metastatic urothelial cell tumor. Corneal graft rejection was managed with topical dexamethasone drops, which were tapered slowly. Pembrolizumab treatment was continued with careful ophthalmological follow-up. Unfortunately, recurrence of corneal graft rejection was observed 8 weeks after cessation of topical dexamethasone drops. After consulting the treating oncologist, pembrolizumab treatment was stopped to prevent recurrent corneal graft rejection.

We report the first case of corneal graft rejection presumably associated with pembrolizumab immunotherapy. Corneal graft rejection may be successfully managed with corticosteroid therapy. However, constant vigilance and follow-up are advised because of the risk of recurrence in case of continued pembrolizumab treatment. Given the subclinical presentation, baseline ophthalmological screening is advised in all corneal graft patients after initiating immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.