Fujii T; Saito H; Ide S; Ohara S; Uchida T; Inoue M; Hagihara M; Kushimoto K; Nishiura M; Oashi A; Ochi J
Rinsho Ketsueki 2021[]; 62 (1): 30-34 PMID33551422show ga
From December 2019, a 71-year-old male underwent three cycles of a combination therapy of pomalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone for relapsed multiple myeloma and a very good partial response was achieved. In March 2020, he developed a fever of 38.9 degrees C and computed tomography revealed bilateral ground-glass opacities. Antibiotic therapy was ineffective. Bronchoscopy was performed and bortezomib-induced lung injury was initially suspected. Due to respiratory exacerbation, high-dose steroid therapy was administered, which resulted in a dramatic improvement of the patient's respiratory failure. Thereafter, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction performed on a preserved bronchial lavage sample tested positive, and thus his diagnosis was corrected to COVID-19 pneumonia. It is difficult to discriminate COVID-19 pneumonia from drug-induced lung disease, as both disorders can present similar ground-glass opacities on computed tomography. Therefore, with this presented case, we summarize our experience with steroid therapy for COVID-19 associated respiratory distress at our institution.
Rinsho+Ketsueki 2021 ; 62 (1): 30-34
