Whole-body MRI in patients with arthralgia or inflammatory arthritis after exposure to immune checkpoint inhibitors: a single-centre prospective imaging study
Authors' conclusion
MRI inflammation and erosions are as prevalent in patients with arthralgia exposed to an immune checkpoint inhibitor as in those with inflammatory arthritis.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with new musculoskeletal symptoms during or up to 6 months after an ICI, and healthy controls, Leeds, UK60 patients · 20 controls
- Participants
- 35 / 25 / 20
- Exposure
- Patients with arthralgia or inflammatory arthritis after ICI exposure vs healthy controls
- Arthralgian = 35
- Inflammatory arthritisn = 25
- Healthy controlsn = 20reference
- Outcome
- Whole-body MRI inflammatory imaging phenotype (joint, tendon, bursal, entheseal and spinal lesions)
Methodological detailssingle-centre, gadolinium contrast-enhanced whole-body MRI, two independent masked assessors
- Single-centre
- Gadolinium contrast-enhanced whole-body MRI
- Two independent masked assessors
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Whole-body MRI inflammation
- Synovitis: acromioclavicular joints
- 46 [77%] of 60
- Synovitis: glenohumeral joints
- 45 [75%] of 60
- Synovitis: wrist
- 43 [73%] of 59
- Synovitis: metacarpophalangeal joints
- 35 [59%] of 59
- Pattern: peripheral inflammatory arthritis
- 22 (37%) of 60
- Pattern: PMR
- 7 (12%)
- Pattern: overlap PMR and peripheral inflammatory arthritis
- 12 (20%)
- Axial inflammation
- 1 patient
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
DMARD requirement (6-month follow-up)
- Patients requiring DMARD therapy in peripheral inflammatory arthritis pattern
- 4 of 5
- Peripheral inflammatory arthritis pattern had the highest initial and ongoing GC requirement
Original publication
Whole-body MRI in patients with arthralgia or inflammatory arthritis after exposure to immune checkpoint inhibitors: a single-centre prospective imaging study. Lancet Rheumatol. Published 10 June 2025. doi:10.
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