Emergency management of immune-related toxicity
Tim Cooksley1, Robin Stutman2, Adam Klotz2
1Department of Acute Medicine and Critical Care, The Christie, Manchester, UK.
Purpose Of Review:
Emergency presentations in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a clinical challenge. Clinicians need to be vigilant in diagnosing and treating immune-mediated toxicities. In this review, we consider the approach to managing an acutely unwell patient being treated with ICIs presenting as an emergency.
Recent Findings:
A minority of acutely unwell patients treated with ICIs will have an immune-mediated toxicity. Early recognition and intervention in those with immune-mediated toxicity can reduce the duration and severity of the complications. The use of early immunosuppressive agents along corticosteroid therapy may improve outcomes in patients with life-threatening immune-mediated toxicity.
Summary:
Individualized management of immune-mediated toxicities is a key challenge for emergency oncology services; this has become part of routine cancer care.
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