Reconceptualization of immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated gastritis.

In recent years, with the extensive application of immunotherapy in clinical practice, it has achieved encouraging therapeutic effects. While enhancing clinical efficacy, however, it can also cause autoimmune damage, triggering immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Reports of immunotherapy-induced gastritis have been increasing annually, but due to its atypical clinical symptoms, early diag-nosis poses a certain challenge. Furthermore, it can lead to severe complications such as gastric bleeding, elevating the risk of adverse outcomes for solid tumor patients if immunotherapy is interrupted. Therefore, gaining a thorough under-standing of the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnostic criteria, and treatment of immune-related gastritis is of utmost importance for early identification, diagnosis, and treatment. Additionally, the treatment of immune-related gastritis should be personalized according to the specific condition of each patient. For patients with grade 2-3 irAEs, restarting immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy may be considered when symptoms subside to grade 0-1. When restarting ICIs therapy, it is often recommended to use different types of ICIs. For grade 4 irAEs, permanent discontinuation of the medication is necessary.

Concurrent Nivolumab-Induced Gastritis and Cholangitis Accompanied by Biliary Tract Hemorrhage in a Patient With Stage IV Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors, including nivolumab, can result in immune-related adverse events (irAEs) that may affect multiple organ systems. Among irAEs, both gastritis and cholangitis are uncommon. We present the case of a 65-year-old man who received nivolumab for lung adenocarcinoma presented with epigastric pain. He was diagnosed with immune-related gastritis and cholangitis based on imaging and pathological findings. We administered prednisolone (1 mg/kg/day), which improved the patient's gastritis and relieved his pain. However, he experienced recurrent epigastric pain during corticosteroid tapering, and magnetic resonance imaging showed biliary tract hemorrhage. After watchful waiting, the hemorrhage improved without additional immunosuppressants. Immune-related gastritis, immune-related cholangitis, and their coexistence should be considered in patients who develop epigastric pain during immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. When patients with concurrent immune-related gastritis and cholangitis complain of recurrent epigastric pain, it is important to assess which of these two irAEs is worsening because the optimal immunosuppressants differ between the two.