[Hepatocellular carcinoma developing autoimmune hemolytic anemia after atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapy, transitioning to second-line treatment following improvement:a case report].

Abstract

Atezolizumab and bevacizumab combination therapy was initiated in a 71-year-old female patient with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma. Severe anemia, which was managed with blood transfusion and demonstrated improvement, was observed after the treatment. However, anemia subsequently reoccurred, accompanied by signs of hemolysis. The condition was diagnosed as autoimmune hemolytic anemia due to atezolizumab. Steroid therapy exhibited improvement, and second-line treatment with lenvatinib was successfully initiated. The possibility of autoimmune hemolytic anemia should be considered when anemia is observed during immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.