Clinical and pathological features of acute kidney injury caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors / 中国医师进修杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe and describe the clinicopathologic manifestations of acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).Methods:The clinicopathologic manifestations of patients diagnosed as AKI related to ICIs in Ningbo LiHuili Hospital during the period between December 2020 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, including the primary tumor disease, renal pathological features, renal function progression and therapeutic effects.Results:A total of 6 patients were enrolled, all of whom were male, aged (62±11) years old. The median time from the application of ICIs to the onset of AKI was 46 d (ranging from 31 to 95 d). The median of the peak serum creatinine was 311 (205 to 1 053) μmol/L, and 1 patient received hemodialysis treatment. Six patients received renal biopsy, among which 4 cases were acute tubulointerstitial nephritis, 1 case of tubulointerstitial nephritis with both acute and chronic changes, 1 case of chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis. Of the 6 patients, 5 received glucocorticoid therapy, and 2 of the patients completely recovered, while 3 partially recovered. One patient didn′t use glucocorticoid, but his renal function was partially restored after stopping ICIs.Conclusions:AKI caused by ICIs is mainly manifested by acute tubulointerstitial nephritis. Glucocorticoid has some therapeutic effects on AKI caused by ICIs and may be an effective treatment.