Life-threatening Adverse Events Research Articles

SAT110 Euglycemic Diabetes Ketoacidosis Associated With Sodium-glucose Cotransporter Inhibitors: A Case Series To Raise Awareness

Abstract Disclosure: D. Katwal: None. Y. Pokharel: None. M. Ghawji: None. Z. Liu: None. H.O. Steinberg: None. S. Dagogo-Jack: Consulting Fee; Self; AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Janssen Research & Development Company, Medtronic Diabetes, Merck & Co., Sanofi, Bayer, Inc. Research Investigator; Self; AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, Boehringer Ingelheim. Other; Self; Janacare. Introduction: Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter Inhibitors (SGLT2i) treatment is increasing partly due to its cardiovascular and renal benefits, enlarging the population at-risk for euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (euDKA), a potentially life-threatening adverse event associated with SGLT2i use. Unfortunately, even among healthcare providers, awareness of euDKA appears to be low, resulting in delayed treatment and increased morbidity/mortality; We describe three cases of euDKA to illustrate. Case 1: A 25-year-old morbidly obese male with recent onset of T2DM presented with nausea and vomiting for two days. A few days before his presentation, he was started on dapagliflozin 5 mg daily and metformin 500 mg BID. Symptoms began within 24 hours of starting his medications. Laboratory results were consistent with euDKA: blood glucose (BG) of 144 mg/dl (70-110 mg/dl), pH 7.05 (7.35-7.45), bicarbonate 6 mmol/L (21-31mmol/L), and anion gap (AG) 20 mmol/L (2-15mmol/L). The euDKA resolved after 48 hours on standard treatment. Case 2: A 54-year-old male with T2DM on empagliflozin 10 mg daily presented with progressive dyspnea and altered mental status for two days. He was tachypneic, tachycardic, and hypotensive. Laboratory results were consistent with euDKA with a BG of 121 mg/dl, bicarb 4 mmol/L(21-31mmol/L), pH of 6.82, and AG 30 mmol/L. In addition to standard treatment, he required pressor and antibiotics; euDKA resolved after 65 hours. Case 3: A 68-year-old male with T2DM and other comorbidities presented with nausea, coffee-ground emesis, and abdominal pain for three days. He had recently started empagliflozin 25 mg daily. He had tachycardia and a diffusely tender abdomen. Laboratory results revealed BG of 101 mg/dl, bicarb 19 mmol/L (22-32 mmol/L), and AG of 16 (5-20) progressing to a bicarb 12 mmol/L, BG of 133 mg/dl, AG>20, pH of 7.23, and beta-hydroxybutyrate 9.7 mmol (0.00-0.29 mmol). The patient was managed with standard therapy and euDKA resolved after 75 hours. Discussion: euDKA is a rare but potentially life-threatening emergency primarily seen in T1DM and rarely in T2DM. The lack of profound hyperglycemia contributes to the delay in diagnosis and treatment. Poor oral intake, pancreatitis, alcohol use, infection, and dehydration have been associated with euDKA in patients treated with SGLT2i. Increased glucagon-to-insulin ratio and excess counter-regulatory hormones have been postulated to cause euDKA. In agreement with the literature, our patients experienced euDKA between 2-360 days of initiating SGLT2i. While our patients responded to standard treatment, the duration of insulin infusion may have been longer than plain DKA. Given the increased morbidity and mortality of euDKA, it is reasonable to consider holding SGLT2i during acute illness and preemptively before elective surgery. Providing sick-day rules to patients treated with SGLT2i should also decrease the risk of euDKA. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

Psychotherapeutic drug-induced life-threatening arrhythmias: A retrospective analysis using the Japanese adverse drug eventreport database.

Drug-induced life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias including torsade de pointes (TdP), ventricular tachycardia (VT), and ventricular fibrillation (VF) are serious cardiac side effects. Psychotherapeutic drugs are known to be risk factors for arrhythmias. The aim of this study was to evaluate psychotherapeutic drugs associated with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias using the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report (JADER) database. From the JADER database (April 2004 to September 2022), cases of TdP, VT, VF, and QT prolongation in patients taking psychotherapeutic drugs as 'suspected drugs' were extracted. The adjusted reported odds ratio (aROR) was calculated to identify potential drugs involved in combined TdP/VF/VT or combined QT prolongation/TdP. Of the 4,530,772 cases reported, life-threatening arrhythmia-related adverse events were reported in 1760 cases (QT prolongation 1261, TdP 192, VF 108, VT 199) among 909 patients; 58.9% of patients were female, and the highest incidence was among patients aged 80-89 years (18.6%), followed by patients aged 70-79 years (15.4%). The highest aROR for TdP/VF/VT was found for trazodone (17.1), followed by sulpiride (10.8), haloperidol (9.8), donepezil (9.1), and fluvoxamine (7.9). The highest aROR for QT prolongation/TdP was found for guanfacine (87.8), followed by sultopride (60.1), escitalopram (21.0), trazodone (12.8), and donepezil (9.3). This study showed that typical antipsychotics, antidepressants, and antidementia drugs were associated with life-threatening arrhythmia-related adverse events in a Japanese clinical setting. These events were more frequent in women and elderly individuals.

Safety and efficacy of tamoxifen in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (TAMDMD): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial

Drug repurposing could provide novel treatment options for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Because tamoxifen-an oestrogen receptor regulator-reduced signs of muscular pathology in a Duchenne muscular dystrophy mouse model, we aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of tamoxifen in humans as an adjunct to corticosteroid therapy over a period of 48 weeks. We did a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial at 12 study centres in seven European countries. We enrolled ambulant boys aged 6·5-12·0 years with a genetically confirmed diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and who were on stable corticosteroid treatment for more than 6 months. Exclusion criteria included ophthalmological disorders, including cataracts, and haematological disorders. We randomly assigned (1:1) participants using an online randomisation tool to either 20 mg tamoxifen orally per day or matched placebo, stratified by centre and corticosteroid intake. Participants, caregivers, and clinical investigators were masked to treatment assignments. Tamoxifen was taken in addition to standard care with corticosteroids, and participants attended study visits for examinations every 12 weeks. The primary efficacy outcome was the change from baseline to week 48 in scores on the D1 domain of the Motor Function Measure in the intention-to-treat population (defined as all patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria and began treatment). This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03354039) and is completed. Between May 24, 2018, and Oct 14, 2020, 95 boys were screened for inclusion, and 82 met inclusion criteria and were initially enrolled into the study. Three boys were excluded after initial screening due to cataract diagnosis or revoked consent directly after screening, but before randomisation. A further boy assigned to the placebo group did not begin treatment. Therefore, 40 individuals assigned tamoxifen and 38 allocated placebo were included in the intention-to-treat population. The primary efficacy outcome did not differ significantly between tamoxifen (-3·05%, 95% CI -7·02 to 0·91) and placebo (-6·15%, -9·19 to -3·11; 2·90% difference, -3·02 to 8·82, p=0·33). Severe adverse events occurred in two participants: one participant who received tamoxifen had a fall, and one who received placebo suffered a panic attack. No deaths or life-threatening serious adverse events occurred. Viral infections were the most common adverse events. Tamoxifen was safe and well tolerated, but no difference between groups was reported for the primary efficacy endpoint. Slower disease progression, defined by loss of motor function over time, was indicated in the tamoxifen group compared with the placebo group, but differences in outcome measures were neither clinically nor statistically significant. Currently, we cannot recommend the use of tamoxifen in daily clinical practice as a treatment option for boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy due to insufficient clinical evidence. Thomi Hopf Foundation, ERA-Net, Swiss National Science Foundation, Duchenne UK, Joining Jack, Duchenne Parent Project, Duchenne Parent Project Spain, Fondation Suisse de Recherche sur les Maladies Musculaires, Association Monegasque contre les Myopathies.

Safety of Single High-Dose Liposomal Amphotericin B for Induction Treatment of Cryptococcal Meningitis and Histoplasmosis in People With HIV: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Evidence for efficacy of single, high-dose liposomal amphotericin B (LAmB) in HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis and histoplasmosis is growing. No systematic review has examined the safety of this regimen across multiple studies. We systematically searched Medline, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library from inception to April 2023 for studies reporting grade 3 and 4 adverse events (AEs) with single high-dose LAmB vs traditional amphotericin regimens for HIV-associated fungal infections. Three trials (n = 946) were included. Compared with traditional regimens, single high-dose LAmB was associated with equivalent risk of grade 3 and 4 AEs (risk ratio [RR], 0.75; 95% CI, 0.53-1.06) and lower overall risk of grade 4 AEs (RR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.55-0.86), grade 4 renal (RR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.20-0.94) and grade 4 hematological AEs (RR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.32-0.65). Single, high-dose LAmB is associated with a lower risk of life-threatening AEs compared with other World Health Organization-endorsed amphotericin B-based regimens in invasive HIV-related fungal infection.

Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamics Study of Multiple Oral Doses of Vildagliptin Sustained Release 100 Mg Tablets under the Fed State in Healthy Volunteers

This study evaluated the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of the vildagliptin 100 mg sustained release (SR) administered once daily compared to vildagliptin 50 mg immediate release (IR) administered twice daily in healthy, adult human subjects under fed conditions.
 This was a randomized, balanced, open-label, two-treatment, two-period, two-sequence, crossover multiple oral dose study in healthy adult subjects under fed conditions. The subjects were randomized to receive either a test product, i.e., vildagliptin SR 100 mg once daily, or a reference product, i.e., vildagliptin 50 mg twice daily. The duration of the study was 25 days. The primary pharmacokinetic parameter evaluated was the area under the concentration-time curve for one dosing interval at steady-state (AUC0-τ, ss). Bioequivalence was determined by assessing whether the 90% confidence intervals (CIs) for the geometric mean ratio of test to reference drug fell within predefined margins of 80% −125% for AUC0-τ, ss. The pharmacodynamics parameters evaluated were percent dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibition and weighted average percent DPP-4 inhibition. 
 Forty healthy adult males completed the study. There was no significant difference between the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles in reference and test products. The mean ± standard deviation (SD) values of AUC0-τ, ss for test and reference product was 2689.06 ± 835.47 2875.57 ± 703.85 ng. hr/mL, respectively. The 90% CIs of geometric least-square means of test/reference ratio for AUC0-τ, ss with vildagliptin SR 100 mg tablet was 86.32-97.26% within the bioequivalence acceptance range. The test and reference product showed over 90% inhibition of DPP-4 activity with multiple doses. The weighted average percent of DPP-4 inhibition (0-24 hrs) was 92.66% with the test product and 93.26% with the reference product. Both products were well tolerated during the entire study period. No serious or life-threatening adverse events (AEs) were reported during the study.
 The two formulations of vildagliptin, i.e., vildagliptin SR 100 mg once daily and vildagliptin 50 mg twice daily, demonstrated similar pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles under fed conditions in healthy adult males. Both formulations were bioequivalent and well tolerated.

Comparative Safety Surveillance of Triple (IDA) Versus Dual Therapy (DA) in Mass Drug Administration for Elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis in Kenya: A Cohort Event Monitoring Study.

Dual diethylcarbamazine and albendazole (DA) therapy is the standard mass drug administration (MDA) regimen for lymphatic filariasis in Kenya. Following the recent World Health Organization recommendation, Kenya piloted triple therapy with ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine, and albendazole (IDA) in MDA. We conducted a community-based, observational, cohort event monitoring study to compare the types, frequency, severity, and predictors of adverse events following dual versus triple therapy in 20,421 eligible residents. Residents in Kilifi (n = 10,010) and Mombasa counties (n = 10,411) received DA and IDA through MDA campaigns, respectively. Adverse events were actively monitored through house-to-house visits on days 1, 2, and 7 after MDA. Any clinical events reported before and after MDA were cross-checked and verified to differentiate pre-existing events from MDA-associated adverse events. Overall, 5807 and 3102 adverse events were reported by 2839 and 1621 individuals in the IDA and DA groups, respectively. The incidence of experiencing one or more adverse events was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in the IDA group (27.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 26.4-28.2) than in the DA group (16.2%; 95% CI 15.5-16.9). Dizziness (15.9% vs 5.9%) and drowsiness (10.1% vs 2.6%) were the most common adverse events and significantly higher in the IDA group compared with the DA group (p < 0.0001). Most adverse events were mild or moderate with a few severe cases (IDA = 0.05%; 95% CI 0.35-0.78, DA = 0.03%; 95% CI 0.14-0.60). Female sex, obesity, taking three or more diethylcarbamazine or ivermectin tablets, and having pre-existing clinical symptoms were significant predictors of adverse events following IDA treatment. Ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine, and albendazole as a combination is as safe and well tolerated as DA to use in MDA campaigns with no serious life-threatening adverse events. Systemic mild-to-moderate adverse events with a few severe cases and transient adverse events are more common with IDA treatment than with DA treatment. Hence, integrating pharmacovigilance into a MDA program is recommended for the timely detection and management of adverse events.

Machine Learning Approaches for Assessing Risk Factors of Adrenal Insufficiency in Patients Undergoing Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy.

Adrenal insufficiency is a rare, yet life-threatening immune-related adverse event of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). This study aimed to establish a risk scoring system for adrenal insufficiency in patients receiving anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) or anti-programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) agents. Moreover, several machine learning methods were utilized to predict such complications. This study included 209 ICI-treated patients from July 2015 to February 2021, excluding those with prior adrenal insufficiency, previous steroid therapy, or incomplete data to ensure data integrity. Patients were continuously followed up at Gyeongsang National University Hospital, with morning blood samples taken for basal cortisol level measurements, facilitating a comprehensive analysis of their adrenal insufficiency risk. Using a chi-squared test and logistic regression model, we derived the odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) through univariate and multivariable analyses. This study utilized machine learning algorithms, such as decision trees, random forests, support vector machines (SVM), and logistic regression to predict adrenal insufficiency in patients treated with ICIs. The performance of each algorithm was evaluated using metrics like accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), ensuring rigorous assessment and reproducibility. A risk scoring system was developed from the multivariable and machine learning analyses. In a multivariable analysis, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) (AOR 4.5), and α-blockers (AOR 6.0) were significant risk factors for adrenal insufficiency after adjusting for confounders. Among the machine learning models, logistic regression and elastic net showed good predictions, with AUROC values of 0.75 (0.61-0.90) and 0.76 (0.64-0.89), respectively. Based on multivariable and machine learning analyses, females (1 point), age ≥ 65 (1 point), PPIs (1 point), α-blockers (2 points), and antipsychotics (3 points) were integrated into the risk scoring system. From the logistic regression curve, patients with 0, 1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 points showed approximately 1.1%, 2.8%, 7.3%, 17.6%, 36.8%, 61.3%, and 81.2% risk for adrenal insufficiency, respectively. The application of our scoring system could prove beneficial in patient assessment and clinical decision-making while administering PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors.

An Overview of Safety and Efficacy Between Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-Prolyl-Hydroxylase Inhibitors and Erythropoietin-Stimulating Agents in Treating Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients.

Anemia is one of the common complications in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Erythropoietin and iron deficiencies are the major causes to develop anemia in CKD patients. Untreated anemia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESA) with iron supplementation are the standard for treating renal anemia. Although ESA with iron supplementation is an effective therapy in maintaining serum hemoglobin (Hb) levels, it increases the risk of several life-threatening adverse events such as hypertension, thromboembolism, cardiovascular morbidity, and mortality with long-term use. Therefore, effective alternate therapy with better safety and efficacy is needed to treat renal anemia. The newer oral therapy hypoxia-inducible factor-prolyl-hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF-PHI) can potentially be an effective alternative therapy in treating renal anemia. This review article compares the safety and efficacy between HIF-PHI and ESA in treating anemia in CKD patients. We conducted a comprehensive literature review of articles, including clinical trials, meta-analyses, and reviews, that compared the safety and efficacy between HIF-PHI and ESA. Studies have shown that the newer oral therapy, HIF-PHI, was non-inferior to ESA to maintain serum Hb levels in CKD patients. Moreover, the adverse event profile was almost similar in both groups. However, as the studies we reviewed have small sample sizes and short duration periods, the long-term effectiveness and safety of HIF-PHI over ESA in treating renal anemia cannot be established.

Gene transfer therapy in children with spinal muscular atrophy: A single-center experience with a cohort of 25 children.

New therapeutic strategies to increase survival motor neuron protein levels in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) have focused on replacing the SMN1 gene. Onasemnogene abeparvovec was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2019 for treatment of children with SMA less than 2 years of age. Postmarketing studies are limited, especially outside of Europe and the United States. Herein we describe a single-center experience with onasemnogene abeparvovec from the Middle East. Between November 17, 2020 and January 31, 2022, 25 children with SMA received onasemnogene abeparvovec at our center in the United Arab Emirates. Data were collected on patients' demographics, age at diagnosis, SMA type, genetic information, relevant medical history, laboratory investigations, and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Infant Test of Neuromuscular Disorders (CHOP-INTEND) functional assessment scores at baseline and 1 and 3 months after gene therapy. Onasemnogene abeparvovec was well tolerated. Significant improvements in CHOP-INTEND scores were observed after the therapy. Elevation of liver enzymes and thrombocytopenia were the most common adverse events, but were transient and managed with high-dose corticosteroids. There were no life-threatening adverse events or deaths reported during the 3-month follow-up period. The study findings concurred with those of previously published studies. Side effects of gene transfer therapy are well tolerated, although serious complications can arise. In such cases, persistent transaminitis for example, steroid dose escalation is warranted with close observation of the patient's clinical status and lab values. Combination therapy should be explored as an alternative to gene transfer therapy only.

Effectiveness and Safety of Intra-arterial Imipenem/Cilastatin Sodium Infusion for Patients with Hand Osteoarthritis–Related Interphalangeal Joint Pain

PurposeTo evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intra-arterial imipenem/cilastatin sodium (IPM/CS) infusion for painful interphalangeal joint osteoarthritis (OA). Materials and MethodsFifty-eight patients with interphalangeal joint OA who underwent intra-arterial IPM/CS infusion were retrospectively evaluated. Intra-arterial infusions were performed via percutaneous wrist arterial access. The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Functional Index for Hand Osteoarthritis (FIHOA), and Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) scale scores were assessed at intervals of 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Clinical success was evaluated based on PGIC. ResultsAll patients were followed up for at least 6 months after treatment. Of them, 30 and 6 patients were followed up for 12 and 18 months, respectively. No severe or life-threatening adverse events were encountered. The mean NRS score was 6.0 ± 1.4 at baseline, which significantly decreased to 2.8 ± 1.4, 2.2 ± 1.9, and 2.4 ± 1.9 at 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment, respectively (all P < .001). The mean NRS scores were 2.8 ± 1.7 and 2.9 ± 1.9 at 12 and 18 months, respectively, in the remaining patients. The mean FIHOA score significantly decreased from 9.8 ± 5.0 at the baseline to 4.1 ± 3.5 at 3 months (P < .001). The mean FIHOA score was 4.5 ± 3.3 at 12 months in the remaining 30 patients. The clinical success rates based on PGIC at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months were 62.1%, 77.6%, 70.7%, 63.4%, and 50.0%, respectively. ConclusionsIntra-arterial IPM/CS infusion is a potential treatment option for interphalangeal joint OA refractory to medical management.

High-flow oxygen therapy versus facemask preoxygenation in anticipated difficult airway management (PREOPTI-DAM): an open-label, single-centre, randomised controlled phase 3 trial.

Difficult airway management remains a critical procedure with life-threatening adverse events. Current guidelines suggest high-flow therapy by nasal cannulae (HFNC) as a preoxygenation device in this setting. However, there is an evidence gap to support this recommendation. The PREOPTI-DAM study is an open-label, single-centre, randomised controlled phase 3 trial done at Nantes University Hospital, France. Patients were aged 18-90 years with one major or two minor criteria of anticipated difficult airway management, and requiring intubation for scheduled surgery, were eligible. Patients with body mass index >35kg/m2 were excluded. Patients were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive 4-min preoxygenation by HFNC or facemask. Randomisation was stratified according to the intubation strategy (laryngoscopic versus fiberoptic intubation). The primary outcome was the incidence of oxygen desaturation ≤94% or of bag-mask ventilation during intubation. The primary and safety analyses included the intention to treat population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03604120) and EudraCT (2018-A00434-51). From September 4 2018 to March 31 2021, 186 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned. One participant withdrew consent and 185 (99.5%) were included in the primary analysis (HFNC, N=95; Facemask, N=90). The incidence of the primary outcome was not significantly different between the HFNC and the facemask groups, respectively 2 (2%) versus 7 (8%); adjusted difference,-5.6 [95% confidence interval (CI),-11.8 to 0.6], P=0.10. In the HFNC group, 76 patients (80%) versus 53 (59%) in the facemask group, reported good or excellent intubation experiences; adjusted difference 20.5 [95% CI, 8.3-32.8], P=0.016. Comparing HFNC with facemask, severe complication occurred in 22 (23%) versus 27 (30%) patients (P=0.29), and moderate complication in 14 (15%) versus 18 (20%) patients (P=0.35). No death or cardiac arrest occurred during the study. Compared with facemask, HFNC did not significantly reduce the incidence of desaturation ≤94% or bag-mask ventilation during anticipated difficult intubation but the trial was underpowered to rule out a clinically significant benefit. Patient satisfaction was improved with HFNC. Nantes University Hospital and Fisher & Paykel Healthcare.

Safety of checkpoint inhibitors in older patients with genitourinary cancers.

12059 Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the care of patients with genitourinary (GU) cancers however many of the clinical trials that have led to the approval of ICIs in GU cancers often have low enrollments of older patients aged 65 and above for which safety data in this cohort is limited. Methods: A retrospective study was performed that included all patients aged 65 and older with kidney, bladder, and upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), who were treated at the University of Florida Health Cancer Center between January 2018 and September 2022, and received at least one dose of ICI (pembrolizumab, nivolumab, ipilimumab with nivolumab, avelumab, or atezolizumab). Data was collected on all documented immune related adverse events (irAEs) that were deemed attributable to the checkpoint inhibitor by the treating provider. The grading of toxicities was determined by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0. Results: We identified a total of 139 patients who met the inclusion criteria of our study. The ages of patients ranged from 65 to 93 and the median age was 74. Females accounted for 31 patients (22%) while 108 patients (78%) were male. There were 56 patients (40%) with bladder cancer, 58 patients (42%) with kidney cancer, and 25 patients (18%) with UTUC. An irAE was documented in 76 patients (55%) while 63 patients (45%) had no documented irAE. Patients were categorized by the highest grade of toxicity experienced. A Grade 1 toxicity was found in 15 patients (11%), while a grade 2 toxicity was found in 41 patients (29%), with 18 patients (13%) having a grade 3 toxicity, and 2 patients (1%) experiencing a grade 4 toxicity. There were no documented grade 5 toxicities, i.e. no deaths were directly attributed to treatment. We found that 27 patients (19%) required either oral or intravenous steroids to manage their irAE. Discontinuation of treatment due to an irAE was observed in 16 patients (12%). Inpatient hospitalization due to an irAE occurred in 12 patients (9%). Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that the majority of patients aged 65 and older either have no irAEs or developed mild irAEs when treated with ICIs. Severe and life-threatening adverse events are uncommon, rarely require hospital admission, and did not lead to any deaths. This study should help to provide valuable information on the safety of checkpoint inhibitors in older patients with GU cancers and assist in the shared decision-making process for cancer treatment. [Table: see text]

Identifying molecular targets for rational immunosuppressive strategies in patients with immune checkpoint therapy-induced myocarditis and myositis.

2511 Background: Immune checkpoint therapies (ICTs) can induce durable anti-tumor responses but also life-threatening immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Myocarditis, myositis, and myasthenia gravis (MG) are rare, often concurrent irAEs with mortality up to 40%. Steroids are the standard first-line treatment and have significant adverse events with prolonged use. We and others have identified serum autoantibodies in these irAEs, suggestive of B cell contribution to pathogenesis. Furthermore, although prior studies have shown T cells and myeloid cells in inflamed muscle tissue, their specific subtype and role in disease pathogenesis have yet to be defined. This understanding may contribute to the development of more effective immunosuppressive strategies. Hypothesis: In addition to T cells, plasma B and myeloid cells contribute to the pathogenesis of ICT-induced myocarditis, myositis, and MG. Methods: We enrolled patients with suspected ICT-induced myocarditis, myositis, and MG on an IRB-approved laboratory protocol. Diagnosis required: 1) symptoms requiring hospitalization; 2) elevated serum markers (creatine kinase ≥5x normal, troponin &gt;99th percentile or detection of autoantibodies for MG); and 3) positive biopsy, electromyography, or cardiac MRI. Patients underwent standard diagnostic testing (including endomyocardial and/or skeletal muscle biopsy) and treatment as clinically indicated. Results: 23 patients were enrolled (n=13, confirmed irAE; n=10, negative control). Most patients received combination ICT (10/13, 77%). Anti-striated muscle and/or acetylcholine receptor binding antibodies were detected in 7/13 patients (54%), including 3 without MG (known to have both T and B cell etiologies). Single cell RNA sequencing of patient tissue (confirmed irAEs: cardiac n=10, skeletal n=9; control: cardiac n=4, skeletal n=5) identified specific populations of myeloid and CD8+ T cells conserved between inflamed cardiac and skeletal muscle. Conclusions: Specific populations of T cells, myeloid cells, and plasma B cells are potential targets for rational immunosuppressive strategies in ICT-induced myocarditis and myositis and will be tested in murine models to inform future clinical trial design. [Table: see text]

Cardiovascular toxicity profiles of immune checkpoint inhibitors with or without angiogenesis inhibitors: a real-world pharmacovigilance analysis based on the FAERS database from 2014 to 2022.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with angiogenesis inhibitors (AGIs) have become increasingly available for multiple types of cancers, although the cardiovascular safety profiles of this combination therapy in real-world settings have not been elucidated to date. Therefore, we aimed to comprehensively investigate the cardiovascular toxicity profiles of ICIs combined with AGIs in comparison with ICIs alone. The Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database from the 1st quarter of 2014 to the 1st quarter of 2022 was retrospectively queried to extract reports of cardiovascular adverse events (AEs) associated with ICIs alone, AGIs alone and combination therapy. To perform disproportionality analysis, the reporting odds ratios (RORs) and information components (ICs) were calculated with statistical shrinkage transformation formulas and a lower limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) for ROR (ROR025) > 1 or IC (IC025) > 0 with at least 3 reports was considered statistically significant. A total of 18 854 cardiovascular AE cases/26 059 reports for ICIs alone, 47 168 cases/67 595 reports for AGIs alone, and 3 978 cases/5 263 reports for combination therapy were extracted. Compared to the entire database of patients without AGIs or ICIs, cardiovascular AEs were overreported in patients with combination therapy (IC025/ROR025 = 0.559/1.478), showing stronger signal strength than those taking ICIs alone (IC025/ROR025 = 0.118/1.086) or AGIs alone (IC025/ROR025 = 0.323/1.252). Importantly, compared with ICIs alone, combination therapy showed a decrease in signal strength for noninfectious myocarditis/pericarditis (IC025/ROR025 = 1.142/2.216 vs. IC025/ROR025 = 0.673/1.614), while an increase in signal value for embolic and thrombotic events (IC025/ROR025 = 0.147/1.111 vs. IC025/ROR025 = 0.591/1.519). For outcomes of cardiovascular AEs, the frequency of death and life-threatening AEs was lower for combination therapy than ICIs alone in noninfectious myocarditis/pericarditis (37.7% vs. 49.2%) as well as in embolic and thrombotic events (29.9% vs. 39.6%). Analysis among indications of cancer showed similar findings. Overall, ICIs combined with AGIs showed a greater risk of cardiovascular AEs than ICIs alone, mainly due to an increase in embolic and thrombotic events while a decrease in noninfectious myocarditis/pericarditis. In addition, compared with ICIs alone, combination therapy presented a lower frequency of death and life-threatening in noninfectious myocarditis/pericarditis and embolic and thrombotic events.

Black esophagus: a life-threatening adverse event associated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Black esophagus: a life-threatening adverse event associated with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.

Clinical characteristics and human leukocyte antigens in patients with immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced type 1 diabetes and pituitary dysfunction: a single center prospective study.

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) induced type 1 diabetes (T1D) and pituitary dysfunction are life-threatening adverse events, yet there is little clinical data available. We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with these adverse events and report their human leukocyte antigen (HLA) profile to determine its relevance. This is a single-center prospective study. We enrolled patients with cancers who were administered ICI and diagnosed as ICI induced T1D (ICI-T1D) and pituitary dysfunction (ICI-PD). Clinical data and extracted DNA from blood samples were collected. HLA typing was performed using next-generation sequencing. We compared our results with those previously reported in healthy controls and investigated the correlation between HLA and the occurrence of ICI-T1D and ICI-PD. We identified 914 patients treated with ICI in our facility from 1st September, 2017 to 30th June, 2022. Six of these patients developed T1D and 15 developed pituitary dysfunction. The duration from the initiation of ICI treatment to the onset of T1D or pituitary dysfunction averaged 492 ± 196 days and 191 ± 169 days. Among the six patients with T1D, two were positive for anti-GAD antibody. The frequencies of HLA-DR11, -Cw10, -B61, -DRB1*11:01, and -C*03:04 were significantly higher in patients with ICI-T1D than in controls. The frequencies of HLA-DR15 and -DRB*15:02 were significantly higher in patients with ICI-PD than in controls. This study revealed the clinical characteristics of ICI-T1D and ICI-PD and the association between specific HLAs and these adverse events.

Cutaneous manifestations induced by check point inhibitors in 120 melanoma patients-The European MelSkinTox study.

Checkpoint inhibitors provide an effective approach for the melanoma treatment. They prolong lymphocyte effects, which explains the cytotoxicity underlying immune-related adverse events (IrAEs). Cutaneous IrAEs affect nearly 40% of PD-1i and 50% of CTLA4i-treated patients. Severe cutaneous irAE do not often occur but could be life-threatening and may persist despite treatment discontinuation. We aimed to investigate cutaneous IrAEs in a cohort of patients treated with ICI across Europe in an effort to characterize the reactions in a real-world, phase IV, post-marketing study using a follow-up questionnaire. Data since November 2016 until March 2021 were obtained from the Melskintox database, a European multicentric biobank dedicated to the follow-up of melanoma and cutaneous adverse events, supported by EADO. The dermatoses reported were pooled into four categories: inflammatory dermatosis, bullous diseases, drug-related eruptions and pigmentary diseases. Inflammatory benign dermatoses (n = 63) represented the most common group of reactions (52.5%), followed by drug-related eruptions (n = 24, 20%), pigmentary diseases (n = 23, 19.2%) and bullous diseases (n = 10, 8.3%). Grade II (n = 41, 34.2%) are represented by bullous pemphigoid, eczema, hypodermitis, lichenoid eruption, maculopapular rash, pruritus, psoriasis-like rash, urticarial eruption and vitiligo. Grade III (n = 18, 15.0%) are represented by bullous pemphigoid, lichenoid eruption and rashes. Grade IV (n = 2, 1.7%) is only represented by bullous disease. Most cutaneous IrAEs led to immunotherapy continuation (n = 95, 88.0%). CR is associated with more severe the cutaneous irAEs. We report an average time-to-onset of 208 days and some late-onset events. Our study has characterized the clinical spectrum of cutaneous irAEs, their timing and severity and their relationship with tumour response. Grade I-II cutaneous IrAE are easily managed allowing ongoing anticancer treatment. Severe late-onset cutaneous irAE are not uncommon. A dermatological follow-up helps mitigate the risk of life-threatening adverse events. These findings highlight the importance of oncodermatological involvement in management of patients with melanoma receiving immunotherapy.

RNase2 is a possible trigger of acute-on-chronic inflammation leading to mRNA vaccine-associated cardiac complication

Post-mRNA vaccination-associated cardiac complication is a rare but life-threatening adverse event. Its risk has been well balanced by the benefit of vaccination-induced protection against severe COVID-19. As the rate of severe COVID-19 has consequently declined, future booster vaccination to sustain immunity, especially against infection with new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants, may encounter benefit-risk ratios that are less favorable than at the start of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign. Understanding the pathogenesis of rare but severe vaccine-associated adverse events to minimize its risk is thus urgent. Here, we report a serendipitous finding of a case of cardiac complication following a third shot of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. As this case was enrolled in a cohort study, pre-vaccination and pre-symptomatic blood samples were available for genomic and multiplex cytokine analyses. These analyses revealed the presence of subclinical chronic inflammation, with an elevated expression of RNASE2 at pre-booster baseline as a possible trigger of an acute-on-chronic inflammation that resulted in the cardiac complication. RNASE2 encodes for the ribonuclease RNase2, which cleaves RNA at the 3' side of uridine, which may thus remove the only Toll-like receptor (TLR)-avoidance safety feature of current mRNA vaccines. These pre-booster and pre-symptomatic gene and cytokine expression data provide unique insights into the possible pathogenesis of vaccine-associated cardiac complication and suggest the incorporation of additional nucleoside modification for an added safety margin. This work was funded by the NMRC Open Fund-Large Collaborative Grant on Integrated Innovations on Infectious Diseases (OFLCG19May-0034).

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Related New Onset Myasthenia Gravis: Case Series (P4-5.028)

<h3>Objective:</h3> Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), such as cytotoxic lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) axis are treatment for several malignancies. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a rare but life-threatening adverse event of ICI. <h3>Background:</h3> With ICI single agent use, 42 cases of new-onset MG are reported in literature, among those, 14 patients developed severe respiratory failure and required intubation whereas 10 patients died. Combination ICI-induced MG was reported in 7 cases, with at least 2 cases complicated by respiratory failure and 1 death. A better outcome was observed in patients who received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) or plasmapheresis (PLEX) as first-line therapy than in those who received steroids alone (95% vs 63% improvement of MG symptoms). <h3>Design/Methods:</h3> Case series and literature review <h3>Results:</h3> <h3>Case 1:</h3> 87-year-old woman with stage IV adenocarcinoma of colon received pembrolizumab. Ten days after second dose she presented with worsening new onset bilateral ptosis (left&gt;right) and dysphagia, seropositive with acetylcholine receptor antibodies. There was no significant improvement after a course of IVIG in combination with high dose steroids. A trial of pyridostigmine could not be completed due to symptomatic bradycardia and hospice care was started thirty-eight days after first dose of pembrolizumab. <h3>Case 2:</h3> 73-year-old man with metastatic melanoma, received 2 doses of combined ipilimumab and nivolumab. Fifteen days after second dose, he presented with worsening dysphagia, dysarthria, fatigable generalized weakness and shortness of breath, seronegative for MG antibodies. Symptoms improved dramatically with IVIG. His course was complicated by rostral brainstem ischemic stroke and discharged to hospice ninety-four days after the first dose of combined ipilimumab and nivolumab <h3>Conclusions:</h3> Evidence is limited and data from a large cohort of patients is needed to recognize and manage this fatal complication. <b>Disclosure:</b> Dr. Habib has nothing to disclose. Dr. Ahmed has nothing to disclose. Dr. Al-Awwad has nothing to disclose. Sarah Sung, MD has nothing to disclose.

Decentralized, Integrated Treatment of RR/MDR-TB and HIV Using a Bedaquiline-Based, Short-Course Regimen Is Effective and Associated With Improved HIV Disease Control.

In decentralized sites, with fewer resources and a high prevalence of advanced HIV, the effectiveness of the new short-course, bedaquiline-based regimen for rifampicin-resistant and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (RR/MDR-TB) is not well-described. Adults with pulmonary RR/MDR-TB initiating the short-course regimen in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa were prospectively enrolled at a decentralized program that integrated person-centered TB care. In addition to standard of care monitoring, study visits occurred at enrollment and months 1, 2, 4, 6, and 9. Favorable RR/MDR-TB outcome was defined as cure or treatment completion without loss to follow-up, death, or failure by treatment. In patients with HIV, we assessed antiretroviral therapy (ART) uptake, virologic and immunologic outcomes. Among 57 patients, HIV was present in 73.7% (95% CI: 60.3-84.5), with a median CD4 count of 170 cells/mm 3 (intraquartile range 49-314). A favorable RR/MDR-TB outcome was achieved in 78.9% (CI: 67.1-87.9). Three deaths occurred, all in the setting of baseline advanced HIV and elevated viral load. Overall, 21.1% (95% CI: 12.1-32.9) experienced a severe or life-threatening adverse event, the most common of which was anemia. Among patients with HIV, enrollment resulted in increased ART uptake by 24% (95% CI: 12.1%-39.4%), a significant improvement from baseline ( P = 0.004); virologic suppression during concomitant treatment was observed in 71.4% (n = 30, 95% CI: 55.4-84.3). Decentralized, person-centered care for RR/MDR-TB in patients with HIV using the short-course, bedaquiline-based regimen is effective and safe. In patients with HIV, enrollment led to improved ART use and reassuring virologic outcomes.