Mimickers of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-induced Inflammatory Arthritis

Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2024 May;50(2):161-179. doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2024.01.002. Epub 2024 Mar 5.

Abstract

The differential diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis as an immune-related adverse event can be challenging as patients with cancer can present with musculoskeletal symptoms that can mimic arthritis because of localized or generalized joint pain. In addition, immune checkpoint inhibitors can exacerbate joint conditions such as crystal-induced arthritis or osteoarthritis, or induce systemic disease that can affect the joints such as sarcoidosis. This distinction is important as the treatment of these conditions can be different from that of immune-related inflammatory arthritis.

Keywords: Cancer; Immune checkpoint inhibitors; Immune-related adverse events; Inflammatory arthritis; Mimickers; Paraneoplastic syndromes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Arthritis* / chemically induced
  • Arthritis* / diagnosis
  • Arthritis* / drug therapy
  • Crystal Arthropathies / diagnosis
  • Crystal Arthropathies / immunology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors* / adverse effects
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Osteoarthritis / drug therapy
  • Osteoarthritis / immunology
  • Sarcoidosis / chemically induced
  • Sarcoidosis / diagnosis
  • Sarcoidosis / immunology

Substances

  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors