[Neurological side-effects associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors].
The use of checkpoint inhibitors has shown significant clinical benefit in various cancer types but also carries a risk of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). As the use of checkpoint inhibitors continues to rise, so does the incidence of irAEs. Among these, neurological adverse events (neuro-irAEs) are particularly challenging to detect since they can manifest with a wide range of symptoms, often mimicking disease progression. In addition, neuro-irAEs may follow a severe clinical course, potentially leading to life-threatening consequences if not recognized promptly. We present three cases illustrating the variety in symptoms and signs related to neuro-irAEs including muscle weakness, sensory disturbances, intermittent seizures and double vision. In each scenario, the probable diagnosis of a neuro-irAE posed a significant challenge, necessitating the exclusion of alternative causes. This emphasizes the need for awareness among healthcare professionals regarding neuro-irAEs in the era of expanding checkpoint inhibitor use.
Authors
- Wouter W. van Willigen
- Dominique Schreurs (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4018-7936)
- Ellen Kapiteijn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4814-6426)
- Umesh A. Badrising (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0146-2664)
- Frank M Speetjens
Institutions
- Leiden University (NL)
- Geneeskundige en Gezondheidsdienst (NL)
- Centre for Medical Systems Biology (NL)
- Phoenix Contact (United States) (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- PubMed
- Published
- 2025-01-29
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Cancer Treatment and Pharmacology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 1.05