Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis, myositis, and myasthenia gravis overlap syndrome: a single-center case series and systematic review.

What was studied

It looked at a rare overlap of heart muscle inflammation and muscle inflammation. The overlap also includes myasthenia gravis. It can follow immune checkpoint inhibitor cancer drugs. The team looked back at records of patients from Hospital del Mar. They also reviewed published reports. The review covered 71 studies with 103 patients.

What they found

In the hospital series, all patients were men. The median age was 81 years. Double vision, drooping eyelid and breathlessness were common starting signs. Lung cancer and urothelial carcinoma were the most frequent tumour types. Most got high-dose steroids and other immune-calming drugs. In the review, the median age was 71 years. Most patients were men. Melanoma was the most frequent cancer. Drooping eyelid and weakness were the most common starting symptoms.

What it means for patients

The authors call the syndrome rare, early-onset and severe, with a high death rate. They say it needs fast recognition, close heart and breathing checks, and team-based care. They say the evidence is observational.

Why it is not certain yet

The evidence is observational. It does not show which treatment works better. The hospital series looked back at past records. Case reports describe single patients and have no comparison group.

Source

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-related myocarditis, myositis, and myasthenia gravis overlap syndrome: a single-center case series and systematic review.

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