Association of Pulmonary Sepsis and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Pharmacovigilance Study

Background: Although some sepsis cases were reported with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in clinical trials, the link between pulmonary sepsis and ICIs remains mostly unknown. We aim to investigate the association between pulmonary sepsis and ICIs, and to describe the clinical features. Methods: A disproportionality analysis was performed using FAERS data and compared rates of pulmonary sepsis in cancer patients receiving ICIs vs. other drug regimens (such as chemotherapy and targeted therapy). Associations between ICIs and sepsis were assessed using reporting odds ratios (ROR) and information component (IC). We also detected drug interaction signals based on the Ω shrinkage measure. Age and gender distribution were compared between pulmonary sepsis and all adverse events associated with ICIs. Results: We identified 120 reports of pulmonary sepsis associated with ICIs between Q1, 2011 to Q3, 2021. A total of 82 of 120 (68.3%) patients on ICIs suffered from pulmonary sepsis and progressed to death. In addition, there is no significant difference in age and gender in the occurrence of pulmonary sepsis in cancer patients on ICIs. Overall ICIs, nivolumab, and atezolizumab still have a significant signal of pulmonary sepsis (ROR025 > 1, IC025 > 0, p < 0.001) compared with targeted therapy (such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors) or chemotherapy. Co-administration of ICIs and glucocorticoids or proton pump inhibitors synergistically increased the risk of pulmonary sepsis (Ω025 > 0). Conclusions: Our study suggested ICIs, especially nivolumab and atezolizumab, tended to increase the risk of pulmonary sepsis more than other anticancer regimens. Clinicians should be vigilant in the prevention and management of pulmonary sepsis during ICIs therapy.