
Immune checkpoint inhibitor-mediated myasthenia gravis with focal subclinical myocarditis progressing to symptomatic cardiac disease
Author(s) -
Phillip J Leaver,
Helena Sung-In Jang,
Stephen T. Ver,
Suran L. Fernando
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr-2019-232920
Subject(s) - medicine , myasthenia gravis , myocarditis , subclinical infection , context (archaeology) , adverse effect , immunology , paleontology , biology
The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for cancer therapy has heralded increasing frequency of immune-related adverse events including endocrinopathies, hepatitis, colitis and rarely myocarditis and myasthenia gravis (MG). The heterogeneity in clinical presentations regardless of organ-specific involvement can lead to delayed recognition and management of these events and adverse health outcomes. We describe a case of ICI-induced subclinical focal myocarditis that was recognised and treated in the broader context of MG. It is essential that patients with ICI-induced MG should be screened and monitored for myocarditis, a potentially fatal complication.