ABSTRACT
Use of checkpoint inhibitors to treat cancer was one of the most important revolution these last years and an increasing number of new types of tumors is currently under investigation with these new treatments. However, immune-related adverse events associated with these agents frequently affect various organs, mimicking auto-immune or inflammatory diseases. Some of these effects can be severe, often requiring hospitalization and specialized treatment (immunosuppression). Most known agents are ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4 antibody) nivolumab and pembrolizumab (anti-PD-1 antibodies). New molecules are now approved or in development as anti-PD-L1 antibodies, anti-LAG-3 or anti-TIM-3 antibodies, increasing the probability and new description of immune-related adverse events. With his experience in auto-immune diseases, the immunologist/internal medicine specialist has an important role in the management of these toxicities. The goal of this review is to focus on the incidence, diagnostic assessment and recommended management of the most relevant immune-related adverse events.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/adverse effects , CTLA-4 Antigen/antagonists & inhibitors , Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/antagonists & inhibitors , Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological/pharmacology , Autoimmune Diseases/complications , Cardiotoxicity/etiology , Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/etiology , Drug Eruptions/etiology , Hematologic Diseases/chemically induced , Humans , Kidney Diseases/chemically induced , Lung Diseases, Interstitial/chemically induced , Lymphatic Diseases/complications , Nervous System Diseases/chemically induced , Rheumatic Diseases/chemically induced , Thymus Gland , Thyroid Diseases/chemically inducedABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purposes of this retrospective study were to assess the efficacy of endovascular techniques for the treatment of transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) by analyzing technical and clinical success and to compare the results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) alone to those of stenting. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 31 patients who underwent endovascular treatment for TRAS between January 2012 and December 2017. There were 23 men and 8 women with a mean age of 60.5±14 (SD) years (range: 24-81 years). Ten patients (10/31; 32%; 8 men, 2 women; median age, 63 years) were treated with PTA alone and 21/31 (68%; 15 men, 6 women; median age, 65 years) with metallic stent placement. Several variables including serum creatinine level, glomerular filtration rate, arterial blood pressure value, antihypertensive medication obtained before and after treatment were compared. Technical success was assessed for each procedure. Clinical success was defined as a 15% drop in serum creatinine level, a decrease greater than 15% in mean blood pressure values or a decrease greater than 10% in mean blood pressure values with a reduction in the number of antihypertensive drugs needed for hypertension control. RESULTS: Technical success was obtained in all patients [31/31; 100%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 89-100%] and clinical success in 27/31 patients (87%; 95%CI: 71-95%). Four patients (4/31; 13%; 95%CI: 5-29%) underwent repeat endovascular intervention. Mean serum creatinine level and mean arterial blood pressure values were significantly lower after treatment (177.4 and 93.8µmol/l, respectively) compared to before treatment (319.4 and 106.7µmol/l, respectively) in the stent group but not in the group treated with PTA alone (P=0.0012 and P=0.002, respectively). CONCLUSION: The endovascular approach is safe and effective in the management of TRAS and stenting, depending on the morphology of the stenosis, should be the treatment of choice when possible.