Case Report: IBD-like colitis following CAR T cell therapy for diffuse large B cell lymphoma

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has become a new mainstay in the treatment of several hematologic malignancies, but the spectrum of associated complications is still incompletely defined. Here, we report the case of a 70-year-old female patient treated with tisagenlecleucel for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), who developed chronic diarrhea with characteristics of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-like colitis. CAR T cells were substantially enriched in the colon lamina propria and other diagnoses were ruled out. Thus, we conclude that IBD-like colitis in this patient was associated to CAR T cell therapy and needs to be considered as a rare potential complication.

Automated summary

We report a case of a 70-year-old female patient with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with tisagenlecleucel, who developed chronic diarrhea with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-like colitis. CAR T cells were found to be enriched in the colon lamina propria and other diagnoses were ruled out. Therefore, we conclude that IBD-like colitis in this patient was associated with CAR T cell therapy and should be considered as a rare potential complication.