Nivolumab in a Primary Refractory Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Patient with Absolute Lymphopenia Prior to Chemotherapy: Literature Review and a Case Report

Abstract

The paper presents a case report of PET-adapted therapy of primary refractory classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma, stage ІІАХ, in a female patient with absolute lymphopenia prior to chemotherapy. It also provides literature review on the choice of clinical management for similar categories of patients. Nivolumab was prescribed to the patient in February 2019 due to Hodgkin’s lymphoma progression after the failure of 4 chemotherapy lines including brentuximab vedotin. A bulk of mediastinal lymph nodes was exposed to radiation. Complete metabolic response was retained 18 months after nivolumab therapy start and 6 months after its discontinuation. The initial lymphopenia in this patient with primary refractory Hodgkin’s lymphoma did not interfere with the realization of full clinical effect of nivolumab.