Rheumatologic symptoms in oncologic patients on PD-1 inhibitors

Immune checkpoint inhibitors are effective cancer therapies that have been associated with immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Recent reports of irAEs describe symptoms resembling classic rheumatologic syndromes, most notably associated with cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitor blockade. Though cases have been described, there are fewer reports of rheumatologic disease associated with programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitors. Here, we describe a series of four patients presenting to the Brigham and Women ’s Hospital (BWH) Arthritis Center with de novo polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)-type conditions and/or peripheral synovitis after treatment with PD-1/PD-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway inhibitors.

Source: Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism - October 30, 2017 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Wilson F. Kuswanto, Lindsey A. MacFarlane, Lydia Gedmintas, Alexandra Mulloy, Toni K. Choueiri, Bonnie L. Bermas Source Type: research