The Utility of Laboratory Investigations for the Assessment and Management of Rheumatic Immune Related Adverse Events

Alexandra Ladouceur1, Aiarpi Ezdoglian2, Jeffrey A Sparks3

  • 1Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Jewish General Hospital and McGill University, 3755 Côte Ste-Catherine Road, Montreal, Quebec H3T 1E2, Canada.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have greatly improved survival of several cancers with historically very poor prognosis. ICIs act by stimulating the patient's own immune system to fight cancer. Simultaneously, this immune activation can lead to immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including rheumatic manifestations (Rh-irAEs). Rh-irAEs mimic primary rheumatic diseases including arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, myositis, vasculitis, sarcoidosis, and sicca. This article summarizes the latest evidence regarding the utility of laboratory investigations in Rh-irAEs.

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