Sicca syndrome during ipilimumab and nivolumab therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma

Dry mouth is the main symptom of sicca syndrome, which rarely occurs as an immune-related adverse event. Here we report a case of sicca syndrome caused by immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment.

A 70-year-old man was diagnosed with left renal cell carcinoma after radical left nephrectomy. Nine years later, computed tomography revealed a metastatic nodule in the upper left lung lobe. Subsequently, ipilimumab and nivolumab were administered for recurrent disease. After 13 weeks of treatment, xerostomia and dysgeusia were noted. Salivary gland biopsy revealed lymphocyte and plasma cell infiltration in the salivary glands. Sicca syndrome was diagnosed and pilocarpine hydrochloride was prescribed without corticosteroids, with continuation of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. The symptoms alleviated after 36 weeks of treatment, with shrinkage of the metastatic lesions.

We experienced sicca syndrome caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors. Sicca syndrome improved without steroids and the immunotherapy could be continued.