%0 Journal Article
%T Clinical characterization of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis caused by immune checkpoint inhibitors: a review of published cases.
%A Xu Z
%A Li H
%A Yu X
%A Luo J
%A Zhang Z
%J Hematology
%V 29
%N 1
%D 2024 Dec
%M 38606818
%F 2.264
%R 10.1080/16078454.2024.2340144
%X <B>UNASSIGNED: </B>An association exists between immune checkpoint inhibitors and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Therefore, the main objective of this study was to collect data on this rare but potentially life-threatening immune-related adverse reaction to identify the medications that cause it, the clinical characteristics, and effective treatments.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Literature in English and Chinese on immune checkpoint inhibitors causing HLH published from August 2014 to March 2024 was analyzed. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, immunotherapy, anti-PD-1, PD-L1 inhibitors, HLH, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, hemophagocytic syndrome keywords were used to find the literature on China Knowledge Network, Wanfang, PubMed and Emabase Databases.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>Twenty-four studies were included, with a total of 27 patients (18 males and 9 females) with a mean age of 58 years (range 26-86). The mean time to the onset of symptoms was 10.3 weeks (7 days-14 months). The main clinical characteristics were fever, cytopenia, splenomegaly, methemoglobinemia, hypofibrinogenemia, and bone marrow biopsy showed phagocytosis. Twenty-two patients improved after the treatment with steroids, cytokine blocking therapy and symptomatic treatment, four patients died, and one patient was not described.<BR><B>UNASSIGNED: </B>HLH should be not underestimated as a potentially serious adverse effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors since appropriate treatments may save the life of patients.