Neural Autoantibodies Associated with Use of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Neurologists are frequently consulted regarding patients undergoing cancer therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). New data now come from a retrospective case series of 63 patients with neurologic manifestations after starting ICI therapy; 39 patients were seen clinically by the investigators.

The central nervous system was involved in 31 patients. Syndromes included encephalopathy/encephalitis, cerebellar ataxia, movement disorders, optic neuropathy, and myelopathy. The peripheral nervous system was involved in 34 patients, including various neuropathies, polyradiculoneuropathies, myasthenia gravis, and myopathy. Neurologic manifestations occurred within the first 3 months of ICI use for 71% of the 63 patients. Detectable neural a…