Trastuzumab Emtansine (T-DM1)-Induced Porto-Sinusoidal Vascular Disorder: A Case Report
T-DM1 is used to treat early and advanced HER2-positive breast cancer and has a favorable toxicity profile. Porto-sinusoidal vascular disorder (PSVD) is a rare complication of this treatment, and its pathophysiology is not fully understood. A 43-year-old female patient was diagnosed with locally advanced HER2-overexpressing breast cancer, treated with primary chemotherapy, followed by surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy and trastuzumab. Distant relapse was identified four years later, and T-DM1 was started, leading to a complete response. Given the alterations in liver enzymes and signs of portal hypertension observed in a CT scan, a liver biopsy was performed, revealing lesions compatible with PSVD. PSVD related to T-DM1 was assumed, T-DM1 was suspended, and the patient remained under surveillance. She remained asymptomatic and with no evidence of disease for seven months. T-DM1-related PSVD is a rare complication of T-DM1 treatment that should not be overlooked. Clinical suspicion is essential for diagnosis, and T-DM1 suspension is the only known treatment.
Authors
- Ose Pedro
- Carina Fernandes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8258-1448)
- Filipe Moreira de Andrade (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0217-8924)
- Mónica Pinho (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5352-2123)
Institutions
- Hospital Pedro Hispano (PT)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cureus
- Published
- 2025-06-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.86333
- Primary Topic
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00