Elevated CK from immune checkpoint inhibitor- related hypophysitis: a case report

Abstract

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), have emerged to the forefront of management for various advanced cancers, such as melanoma, lung cancer and renal cell carcinoma. Immune checkpoints such as CTLA-4 and PD-1 serve to inhibit T cell activation and signaling; therefore through blockade of these pathways, ICIs promote anti-tumour immune activation. However, as a result of T cell disinhibition, ICIs have been reported to cause immune related adverse events (irAEs) affecting numerous organ systems. One of the most serious and potentially life-threatening irAE is inflammatory myositis. Myositis, which generally presents with progressive proximal muscle weakness and elevated serum creatine kinase (CK), has been reported in <1% of patients who have received ICI therapy. A rare cause of elevated CK is adrenal insufficiency, which has been reported in up to 6% of ICI users. Here we report a case of ICI-related hypophysitis related myopathy that was initially misdiagnosed as ICI-associated inflammatory myositis. This case illustrates the importance of considering a wide differential when assessing hyperCKemia in the setting of ICI use.

Keywords:

• Adrenal insufficiency
• elevated creatine kinase
• myositis
• combination immunotherapy
• nivolumab
• ipilimumab

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to report regarding the present study.

Data availability statement

Restricted; due to legal and privacy considerations. Reviewed on case-by-case basis.

Additional information

Funding

The authors received no specific funding for this study.