The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 News
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Ultrasound Provides Insights into Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor‐Induced Inflammatory Arthritis

Ultrasound Provides Insights into Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor‐Induced Inflammatory Arthritis

October 12, 2020 • By Elizabeth Hofheinz, MPH, MEd

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

Two roads diverged in a cancer ward. One led to chemotherapy, and the other to immunotherapy. Although the latter is a much-celebrated route, it’s not without its drawbacks.

You Might Also Like
  • Insights into Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Inflammatory Arthritis
  • Check It Out: Understanding Immune-Related Adverse Events from Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Reassuring Data on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Autoimmune Disease

True, if one had to choose, it’s preferable to contend with a musculoskeletal issue rather than an oncological one. However, the drugs used in immunotherapy—immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)—may cause serious adverse effects, with the most common rheumatic condition being ICI-induced inflammatory arthritis.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Research from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, set out to examine musculoskeletal ultrasound findings in patients with ICI‐induced inflammatory arthritis. The study, “Sonographic Findings in Inflammatory Arthritis Secondary to Immune Checkpoint Inhibition: A Case Series,” was published in the July 2019 issue of ACR Open Rheumatology. It’s the first systematic effort using musculoskeletal ultrasound to evaluate patients with ICI‐induced inflammatory arthritis and describe its related imaging features.1

Dr. Albayda

Cancer Cells Play Hide & Seek with the Immune System
Jemima Albayda, MD, is the director of the Musculoskeletal Ultrasound and Injection Clinic and assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins. She says, “With ICIs, we now have the ability to harness the immune system in the fight against cancer, something that has long been the dream of oncologists. These impressive drugs, which are effective even in the most dire cases, are now FDA approved.

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

“Although these drugs have done wonders for many people, essentially unleashing the immune cells so they can block the checkpoints cancer cells use to shut down the immune system, other problems may arise. Letting the immune system ‘rip’ can cause unusual manifestations that we still do not fully comprehend. Problems have arisen in every organ; and although the larger side effects—colitis, gut pain, etc.—are easily detected, joint pain is not something people always pay attention to,” she says.

Dr. Cappelli

Education
Laura Cappelli, MD, MHS, is an assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, and a faculty member of the Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center. Her research focuses on understanding the mechanisms and treatment of ICI-induced rheumatologic complications. “At Johns Hopkins, we have an ICI team working on educating oncologists so they will be alert for any joint issues and refer these patients to us in rheumatology. Many people initially think, ‘Oh, it’s just run-of-the-mill joint pain.’ But often, there’s significant functional impact and joint damage.”

Pages: 1 2 3 | Single Page

Filed Under: Conditions Tagged With: ACR Open Rheumatology, ICI‐induced inflammatory arthritis, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI), Immune checkpoint inhibitors, Inflammatory arthritis, Ultrasound

You Might Also Like:
  • Insights into Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Inflammatory Arthritis
  • Check It Out: Understanding Immune-Related Adverse Events from Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • Reassuring Data on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Autoimmune Disease
  • Study Assesses Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Safety in Rheumatic Disease

Simple Tasks

Learn more about the ACR’s public awareness campaign and how you can get involved. Help increase visibility of rheumatic diseases and decrease the number of people left untreated.

Visit the Simple Tasks site »

American College of Rheumatology

Visit the official website for the American College of Rheumatology.

Visit the ACR »

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2022 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)