Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40407655›Full record

ArticleInfectious disease reports2025

A Case of Pulmonary Fibrosis and COVID-19-Related Pneumonia in a Pembrolizumab-Treated Patient.

Alberto Zolezzi, Gina Gualano, Annelisa Mastrobattista, Pietro Vittozzi, Virginia Di Bari, Carlotta Cerva, Silvia Mosti, Antonio Lugini, Fabrizio Albarello, Federica Di Stefano and 2 more

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Infectious disease reports, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Alberto ZolezziRespiratory Infectious Diseases Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy.
Gina GualanoRespiratory Infectious Diseases Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy.
Annelisa MastrobattistaRespiratory Infectious Diseases Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy.
Pietro VittozziRespiratory Infectious Diseases Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy.
Virginia Di BariRespiratory Infectious Diseases Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-3949-9705
Carlotta CervaRespiratory Infectious Diseases Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy.
Silvia MostiRespiratory Infectious Diseases Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy.
Antonio LuginiMedical Oncology, Azienda Ospedaliera San Giovanni Addolorata, 00184 Rome, Italy.
Fabrizio AlbarelloDiagnostic Imaging Unit for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5115-709X
Federica Di StefanoDiagnostic Imaging Unit for Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-7449-2392
Maria Beatrice ValliLaboratory of Virology and Biosafety Laboratories, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-5022-5388
Fabrizio PalmieriRespiratory Infectious Diseases Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani" IRCCS, 00149 Rome, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-8184-6291

Funding

Italian Ministry of Health, grant Ricerca Corrente IRCCS, Research line 4; project no. 4 Tuberculosis and grant Ricerca Finalizzata Covid and Compagnia Italiana Surgelati S.p.a. Progetto "Spallanzani Porte Aperte" 12371675/2020 and 62/2022
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Pembrolizumab is used as a first-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. Pneumonitis and interstitial lung disease are among the most common immune-related adverse events. The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections on patients with cancer treated with chemotherapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is not fully known. Blocking immune checkpoints may conversely augment dysfunctional T-cell responses in severe patients and, in turn, mediate immunopathology. Here, we present a case of SARS-CoV-2 infection complicated by acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and a fibrotic-like pattern in a patient treated with pembrolizumab for lung cancer. The patient showed a dramatic clinical and radiological response after steroid therapy. Further research is needed to better understand the long-term implications of pembrolizumab therapy in patients recovering from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to develop evidence-based guidelines for managing these complex cases. Patients undergoing oncologic immunotherapy might benefit from early high-dose steroid treatment in cases of viral infections, such as SARS-CoV-2.

Indexed as

fibrotic-like patternpembrolizumabsevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

Identifiers

PMID40407655
PMCPMC12101223

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.