A Clinical Profile of Patients on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Referred to Rheumatology

Median age (range) 63 (36–78) Gender (male:female) 6:8 Malignancy Lung, 4 Melanoma, 4 Renal, 3 I mmune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) use is becoming increasingly widespread. They inhibit negative T-cell regulatory mechanisms, thereby promoting immune response. However, this mechanism of action can produce immune-related adverse events (IrAEs), including exacerbation or development of autoimmune disease. Rheumatological manifestations reported thus far are clinically heterogeneous, with reports of polyarthritis, sicca symptoms, polymyalgia rheumatica, giant cell arteritis, reactive arthritis, seronegative spondyloarthritis, vasculitis, inflammatory myopathy, eosinophilic fasciitis, and lupus nephritis. Incidence of ICI-associated rheumatological disease has increased in recent years, but there is a paucity of evidence for its prognosis and treatment. Lesser is known about patients with preexisting rheumatic disease subsequently started on ICIs.