Vasospastic Angina: An Immune-related Adverse Event

A 54-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to our ward because of recurrent chest pain at rest for 2 months. She had been treated with nivolumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor for inoperable advanced hypopharyngeal cancer for 21 months. She had no chest pain after cessation of nivolumab treatment. Cardiac catheterization confirmed the presence of vasospastic angina. Benidipine 8 mg was started, and she had no chest pain even after resuming therapy with nivolumab. Vasospastic angina is an adverse effect of nivolumab.

Automated summary

A 54-year-old Japanese woman experienced vasospastic angina after treatment with nivolumab for advanced hypopharyngeal cancer. The symptoms disappeared after discontinuing nivolumab and reappeared upon resuming the treatment. The use of benidipine provided relief from vasospastic angina.