EULAR points to consider for the diagnosis and management of rheumatic immune-related adverse events due to cancer immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors.
Date
2021-01-01ICR Author
Author
Kostine, M
Finckh, A
Bingham, CO
Visser, K
Leipe, J
Schulze-Koops, H
Choy, EH
Benesova, K
Radstake, TRDJ
Cope, AP
Lambotte, O
Gottenberg, J-E
Allenbach, Y
Visser, M
Rusthoven, C
Thomasen, L
Jamal, S
Marabelle, A
Larkin, J
Haanen, JBAG
Calabrese, LH
Mariette, X
Schaeverbeke, T
Type
Journal Article
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
BACKGROUND: Rheumatic and musculoskeletal immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are observed in about 10% of patients with cancer receiving checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs). Given the recent emergence of these events and the lack of guidance for rheumatologists addressing them, a European League Against Rheumatism task force was convened to harmonise expert opinion regarding their identification and management. METHODS: First, the group formulated research questions for a systematic literature review. Then, based on literature and using a consensus procedure, 4 overarching principles and 10 points to consider were developed. RESULTS: The overarching principles defined the role of rheumatologists in the management of irAEs, highlighting the shared decision-making process between patients, oncologists and rheumatologists. The points to consider inform rheumatologists on the wide spectrum of musculoskeletal irAEs, not fulfilling usual classification criteria of rheumatic diseases, and their differential diagnoses. Early referral and facilitated access to rheumatologist are recommended, to document the target organ inflammation. Regarding therapeutic, three treatment escalations were defined: (1) local/systemic glucocorticoids if symptoms are not controlled by symptomatic treatment, then tapered to the lowest efficient dose, (2) conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, in case of inadequate response to glucocorticoids or for steroid sparing and (3) biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, for severe or refractory irAEs. A warning has been made on severe myositis, a life-threatening situation, requiring high dose of glucocorticoids and close monitoring. For patients with pre-existing rheumatic disease, baseline immunosuppressive regimen should be kept at the lowest efficient dose before starting immunotherapies. CONCLUSION: These statements provide guidance on diagnosis and management of rheumatic irAEs and aim to support future international collaborations.
Collections
Subject
arthritis
autoimmunity
inflammation
multidisciplinary team care
treatment
Advisory Committees
Analgesics
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
Antirheumatic Agents
Arthralgia
Arthritis, Psoriatic
Arthritis, Reactive
Autoantibodies
Decision Making, Shared
Deprescriptions
Europe
Glucocorticoids
Humans
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
Immunologic Factors
Medical Oncology
Methotrexate
Myalgia
Myocarditis
Myositis
Neoplasms
Plasma Exchange
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Rheumatic Diseases
Rheumatology
Severity of Illness Index
Societies, Medical
Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors
Language
eng
Date accepted
2020-04-07
License start date
2021-01-01
Citation
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 2021, 80 (1), pp. 36 - 48
Publisher
BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP