Background and Objectives The clinical course and the risk of chronicity of neurologic immune-related adverse events (n-irAEs) associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are not well documented. This study aimed to characterize the clinical course of n-irAEs and assess the prevalence of chronic events. Methods This nationwide, multicenter, retrospective study included patients with n-irAEs identified at 7 Italian hospitals. The clinical course of n-irAEs was categorized into fulminant (if resulted in death within 12 weeks), monophasic (if resolved within 12 weeks), and chronic (if persisted beyond 12 weeks). Chronic n-irAEs were further subdivided into active (if there was indirect evidence of ongoing inflammation [i.e., required ongoing immunosuppression, relapsed on steroid tapering, or exhibited neurologic progression]) and inactive (if patients had neurologic sequelae without ongoing inflammation). Comparisons between groups and time-to-death analyses were performed. Results Sixty-six patients were included (median age: 69 years [IQR 62–75]; 53 [80%] men). n-irAEs involved the peripheral nervous system in 48 patients (73%), the central nervous system in 14 (21%), and both in 4 (6%). Twelve patients (18%) had a fulminant course, with the risk being significantly higher in those with concurrent myocarditis (OR 5.4; 95% CI [1.02–28.31]). Among 54 patients with a nonfulminant course, 23 (43%) had a monophasic n-irAE and 31 (57%) had a chronic n-irAE, of which 16 of 31 (52%) were chronic active (due to ongoing immunosuppression [69%], relapses at corticosteroid tapering [19%], or neurologic disease progression [12%]) and 15 of 31 (48%) were chronic inactive. In patients with chronic inactive n-irAEs, neurologic sequelae included cerebellar ataxia (33%), neuromuscular weakness (27%), visual loss (13%), sensory disturbances (13%), focal neurologic signs (7%), and cognitive impairment (7%). Compared with patients with monophasic events, those with chronic n-irAEs had a higher rate of severe neurologic disability at the last evaluation (p < 0.01), shorter survival (p < 0.01), and higher overall mortality (p < 0.01), primarily due to cancer progression.

Clinical course of neurologic adverse events associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors focus on chronic toxicities / Rossi, Simone; Farina, Antonio; Malvaso, Antonio; Dinoto, Alessandro; Fionda, Laura; Cornacchini, Sara; Florean, Irene; Zuliani, Luigi; Garibaldi, Matteo; Lauletta, Antonio; Baccari, Flavia; Zenesini, Corrado; Rinaldi, Rita; Mariotto, Sara; Damato, Valentina; Diamanti, Luca; Gastaldi, Matteo; Vogrig, Alberto; Marchioni, Enrico; Guarino, Maria. - In: NEUROLOGY® NEUROIMMUNOLOGY & NEUROINFLAMMATION. - ISSN 2332-7812. - 11:6(2024). [10.1212/NXI.0000000000200314]

Clinical course of neurologic adverse events associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors focus on chronic toxicities

Laura Fionda;Matteo Garibaldi;Antonio Lauletta;Rita Rinaldi;Enrico Marchioni;
2024

Abstract

Background and Objectives The clinical course and the risk of chronicity of neurologic immune-related adverse events (n-irAEs) associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are not well documented. This study aimed to characterize the clinical course of n-irAEs and assess the prevalence of chronic events. Methods This nationwide, multicenter, retrospective study included patients with n-irAEs identified at 7 Italian hospitals. The clinical course of n-irAEs was categorized into fulminant (if resulted in death within 12 weeks), monophasic (if resolved within 12 weeks), and chronic (if persisted beyond 12 weeks). Chronic n-irAEs were further subdivided into active (if there was indirect evidence of ongoing inflammation [i.e., required ongoing immunosuppression, relapsed on steroid tapering, or exhibited neurologic progression]) and inactive (if patients had neurologic sequelae without ongoing inflammation). Comparisons between groups and time-to-death analyses were performed. Results Sixty-six patients were included (median age: 69 years [IQR 62–75]; 53 [80%] men). n-irAEs involved the peripheral nervous system in 48 patients (73%), the central nervous system in 14 (21%), and both in 4 (6%). Twelve patients (18%) had a fulminant course, with the risk being significantly higher in those with concurrent myocarditis (OR 5.4; 95% CI [1.02–28.31]). Among 54 patients with a nonfulminant course, 23 (43%) had a monophasic n-irAE and 31 (57%) had a chronic n-irAE, of which 16 of 31 (52%) were chronic active (due to ongoing immunosuppression [69%], relapses at corticosteroid tapering [19%], or neurologic disease progression [12%]) and 15 of 31 (48%) were chronic inactive. In patients with chronic inactive n-irAEs, neurologic sequelae included cerebellar ataxia (33%), neuromuscular weakness (27%), visual loss (13%), sensory disturbances (13%), focal neurologic signs (7%), and cognitive impairment (7%). Compared with patients with monophasic events, those with chronic n-irAEs had a higher rate of severe neurologic disability at the last evaluation (p < 0.01), shorter survival (p < 0.01), and higher overall mortality (p < 0.01), primarily due to cancer progression.
2024
immune checkpoint inhibitors; neurological adverse events; autoimmune diseases
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
Clinical course of neurologic adverse events associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors focus on chronic toxicities / Rossi, Simone; Farina, Antonio; Malvaso, Antonio; Dinoto, Alessandro; Fionda, Laura; Cornacchini, Sara; Florean, Irene; Zuliani, Luigi; Garibaldi, Matteo; Lauletta, Antonio; Baccari, Flavia; Zenesini, Corrado; Rinaldi, Rita; Mariotto, Sara; Damato, Valentina; Diamanti, Luca; Gastaldi, Matteo; Vogrig, Alberto; Marchioni, Enrico; Guarino, Maria. - In: NEUROLOGY® NEUROIMMUNOLOGY & NEUROINFLAMMATION. - ISSN 2332-7812. - 11:6(2024). [10.1212/NXI.0000000000200314]
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1719902
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