A 64-year-old woman with recurrent cough and expectoration for 8 months after CAR-T cell therapy

Abstract Background: Various side effects may occur after CAR-T cell therapy, including cytokine release syndrome, tumor lysis syndrome, graft versus host reaction, etc. However, there is no report of bronchiolitis obliterans after CAR-T treatment. Case presentation: A 64-year-old woman was diagnosed with multiple myeloma type IgG-λ stage IIIA. After receiving CAR-T therapy 8 months ago, cough and expectoration occurred. Chest CT scan showed ground glass opacity in the upper lobe of the right lung and the basal segment of the left lower lobe. After antibiotic treatment, the patient's symptoms and imaging performance did not significantly improve. Through bronchoscopy biopsy, it was ultimately diagnosed as bronchitis obliterans. After receiving glucocorticoid and azithromycin treatment, the patient's condition was controlled. Conclusion: CAR-T cell therapy may be one of the causes of BO. Treatment with glucocorticoids and azithromycin may be helpful.