Current Knowledge of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Thrombocytopenia: Epidemiology, Mechanisms, and Management

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been widely adopted in the treatment of malignant tumors, and their durable antitumor effects have revolutionized cancer therapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced thrombocytopenia (ICIIT) represents a rare but potentially severe or even fatal hematologic toxicity associated with immunotherapy. Therefore, it is imperative for healthcare professionals to recognize this potential adverse event and to understand its identification and management. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying ICIIT remain incompletely understood, and both its diagnosis and treatment pose significant challenges. This review summarizes current knowledge on the epidemiology, prognosis, diagnosis, pathogenesis, and clinical management strategies of ICIIT. The findings of this review may serve as critical evidence to aid clinicians in the recognition and treatment of ICIIT and to inform future research efforts. Subsequent studies should aim to identify predictive biomarkers and develop novel therapeutic approaches to improve patient outcomes.