AAN 2021 | Neurological adverse events associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors

Takahisa Mikami, MD, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, comments on a study on neurological adverse events associated with immune checkpoint inhibitor use presented at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) 2021 Annual Meeting. Recent advances in the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors contributed to improving the prognosis of several cancers. However, there are also increasing concerns related to autoimmune and neurological toxicity. Dr Mikami summarizes the main findings of an observational retrospective and pharmacovigilance study using data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database. The study identified an association between the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors and a higher risk of various neurological adverse events such as hypophysitis, meningitis, and encephalitis.