Incidence and treatment of checkpoint inhibitor induced immune related adverse events in the emergency department.

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438 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICPis) are currently indicated for the treatment of various types of cancers. Through inhibition of the cancer cell’s checkpoint mediated T-cell evasion, ICPis allow for sustained T-cell activation and proliferation, resulting in increased cancer cell death. However, due to increased activation and proliferation of cytotoxic T-cells, ICPis have been associated with a wide spectrum of adverse effects, known as immune related adverse effects (irAEs). Although recently updated, the 2018 NCCN and ASCO guidelines state that treatment is based on the location and severity of irAEs. In general, grade 3 toxicities warrant suspension of ICPis and initiation of high-dose corticosteroids. Corticosteroids should then be tapered over the course of at least 4-6 weeks. The diagnosis of an irAE is challenging, toxicities may be misdiagnosed as there is a diverse familiarity with ICPis and their associated irAEs. Subsequently, care may be delayed, and patients may not receive appropriate guideline directed care. Methods: This multi-center chart review included 7 hospitals within a large health system. Our electronic health record was utilized to compile a report of patients who had received ICPIs within 12 months of presentation to an ED within the health system between 9/1/2019 and 9/1/2022. Assessed outcomes included incidence and type of irAE, time between last ICPi dose and presentation to the ED, steroid used for treatment, time to steroid, treatment driver, and the action that deviated from the 2018 ASCO/NCCN guideline directed treatment if applicable. Results: Of the 241 patients receiving an ICPi, 26 (10.8%) experienced an irAE that prompted a visit to an ED within our health system. Guideline directed treatment of irAE(s) was followed 76.9% of the time, with the steroid dose being too low (15.4%) and the steroid taper occurring too quickly (7.7%) being the two reasons for discordant treatment. Treatment started a median of 1.1 after presentation to an ED, with colitis as the most prevalent irAE in 11 patients (42%) presenting. For all patients, there was an average of 20 days between the last ICPi dose and presentation to ED. The main steroid used was methylprednisolone (42%). Conclusions: The 10.8% of patients who experienced an irAE that prompted a visit to an ED within our health system is a lower rate than what has been described in the literature previously, where rates of presentation to an ED due to an irAE ranged from 25-37%. This could be due to previous data coming from before or shortly after the publication of ASCO and NCCN guidelines in 2018, or because our outpatient medical staff has become more aware of irAEs and their appropriate treatment. Limitations include this review was retrospective, no patients had an irAE that was refractory to steroids, and the study period being soon after national guidelines were published.