Sarah Zierold1,2, Larissa Semra Akcetin1, Eva Gresser3, Anna Marie Maier4, Alexander König4, Rafaela Kramer2,5,6,7, Sebastian Theurich8,9,10, Dirk Tomsitz1, Michael Erdmann5,6,7, Lars E French1,11, Martina Rudelius12, Lucie Heinzerling13,14,15. 1. Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Frauenlobstraße 9-11, 80337, Munich, Germany. 2. . 3. Department of Radiology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany. 4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany. 5. Department of Dermatology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany. 6. Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Erlangen, Germany. 7. Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-European Metropolitan Area of Nürnberg (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany. 8. Department of Medicine III, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany. 9. German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner site Munich, Munich, Germany. 10. German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany. 11. Dr. Philip Frost, Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA. 12. Institute of Pathology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany. 13. Department of Dermatology and Allergy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Frauenlobstraße 9-11, 80337, Munich, Germany. Lucie.Heinzerling@med.uni-muenchen.de. 14. , . Lucie.Heinzerling@med.uni-muenchen.de. 15. Department of Dermatology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany. Lucie.Heinzerling@med.uni-muenchen.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: As immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are increasingly being used due to effectiveness in various tumor entities, rare side effects occur more frequently. Pericardial effusion has been reported in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after or under treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, knowledge about serositis and edemas induced by checkpoint inhibitors in other tumor entities is scarce. METHODS AND RESULTS: Four cases with sudden onset of checkpoint inhibitor induced serositis (irSerositis) are presented including one patient with metastatic cervical cancer, two with metastatic melanoma and one with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In all cases treatment with steroids was successful in the beginning, but did not lead to complete recovery of the patients. All patients required multiple punctures. Three of the patients presented with additional peripheral edema; in one patient only the lower extremities were affected, whereas the entire body, even face and eyelids were involved in the other patients. In all patients serositis was accompanied by other immune-related adverse events (irAEs). CONCLUSION: ICI-induced serositis and effusions are complex to diagnose and treat and might be underdiagnosed. For differentiation from malignant serositis pathology of the punctured fluid can be helpful (lymphocytes vs. malignant cells). Identifying irSerositis as early as possible is essential since steroids can improve symptoms.
BACKGROUND: As immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are increasingly being used due to effectiveness in various tumor entities, rare side effects occur more frequently. Pericardial effusion has been reported in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after or under treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, knowledge about serositis and edemas induced by checkpoint inhibitors in other tumor entities is scarce. METHODS AND RESULTS: Four cases with sudden onset of checkpoint inhibitor induced serositis (irSerositis) are presented including one patient with metastatic cervical cancer, two with metastatic melanoma and one with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In all cases treatment with steroids was successful in the beginning, but did not lead to complete recovery of the patients. All patients required multiple punctures. Three of the patients presented with additional peripheral edema; in one patient only the lower extremities were affected, whereas the entire body, even face and eyelids were involved in the other patients. In all patients serositis was accompanied by other immune-related adverse events (irAEs). CONCLUSION: ICI-induced serositis and effusions are complex to diagnose and treat and might be underdiagnosed. For differentiation from malignant serositis pathology of the punctured fluid can be helpful (lymphocytes vs. malignant cells). Identifying irSerositis as early as possible is essential since steroids can improve symptoms.