Checkpoint inhibitors related renal vasculitis and use of rituximab.

Abstract

e15145 Background: As the percentage of cancer patients eligible for checkpoint inhibitor therapy (CPI) is increasing rapidly over the past couple years and approaching 45%, more cases of CPI related nephrotoxicity, including a rare subset with vasculitis, are reported. To learn more about the clinical presentation of CPI associated renal vasculitis, its mechanism, treatment options, and prognosis, we describe cases from our institution and reviewed the literature for related cases. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all cancer patients from 2014 to 2020 who were diagnosed with CPI related nephrotoxicity and underwent a kidney biopsy. Results: We identified 6 cases of renal vasculitis reach with different malignancy, 4 had pauci-immune GN and one of which had IgA vasculitis. 4 of the patients were on nivolumab and 4 of the patients had negative ANCA serology. All patients had microscopic hematuria and severe acute kidney injury (AKI) with Creatinine > 4.5 mg/dl upon diagnosis and 2 patients requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). One patient had concurrent lung involvement. All patients were treated by discontinuing CPI and initiating corticosteroids and rituximab. 3 patients received plasmapheresis who required RRT or had lung involvement. 2 patients died within 8 months of diagnosis due to malignancy progression and none of the cases had a relapse of vasculitis. Conclusions: We demonstrated that CPI can be associated with different types of renal vasculitis that is predominantly ANCA negative and manifest as severe kidney. Despite the lack of strong evidence, treatment as primary ANCA vasculitis with corticosteroids and rituximab is well tolerated with favorable renal outcome.