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Abstract Background Glucocorticoid treatment remains the cornerstone of therapy for immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) myocarditis, but data supporting the use of additional immunotherapy for steroid refractory cases remains limited. We investigate the safety and efficacy of infliximab in patients with ICI myocarditis who are refractory to corticosteroids. Additionally, we highlight the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach in the care for these complex patients. Methods We retrospectively identified consecutive patients who developed ICI myocarditis at our institution between January 2017 and January 2020. Baseline characteristics, laboratory data and clinical outcomes were compared between patients who received infliximab and those who did not. Results Of a total of 11 patients who developed ICI myocarditis, 4 were treated with infliximab. Aside from age, there were no significant differences in baseline patient characteristics between the two groups including total number of ICI doses received and duration from initial ICI dose to onset of symptoms. The time to troponin normalization was 58 vs. 151.5 days (p = 0.25). The duration of prednisone taper was longer in the infliximab group (90 vs. 150 days p = 0.32). All patients survived initial hospital admission. Over a median follow-up period of 287 days, two of the 4 patients died from sepsis 2 and 3 months after initial treatment of their myocarditis; one of these patients was on a steroid taper and the other patient had just completed a steroid taper. Conclusions Infliximab, despite its black box warning in patients with heart failure, may be a safe and effective treatment for ICI myocarditis.

Background: There is limited evidence regarding the impact of cardiology involvement in the care of cancer patients. Objectives: This study evaluated the impact of cardiology involvement on guideline-adherent cardiovascular monitoring and risk factor management in patients with breast cancer treated with trastuzumab. Methods: In a single-center retrospective cohort study, electronic health records from 1,047 patients with breast cancer receiving trastuzumab between January 2009 and July 2018 were evaluated. A visit to a cardiology provider beginning from the 3 months before cancer therapy initiation until the last contact date defined cardiology involvement. Guideline-adherent monitoring, defined by echocardiography assessment within the 4 months before trastuzumab initiation and follow-up echocardiography at least every 4 months during therapy, was compared in patients with and without cardiology involvement before treatment initiation. Multivariable associations between cardiology involvement and the time-varying risk factors blood pressure and body mass index (BMI) were assessed by using generalized estimating equations. Results: Cardiology involvement occurred in 293 (28%) patients. A higher proportion of patients with cardiology involvement before trastuzumab initiation had guideline-adherent monitoring (76.4% vs. 60.1%; p = 0.007). Cardiology involvement was associated with an average 1.5 mm Hg (95% CI: –2.9 to –0.1; p = 0.035) lower systolic blood pressure, which was more pronounced in those with hypertension (–2.7 mm Hg; 95% CI: –4.6 to –0.7; p = 0.007). Cardiology involvement was associated with a lower BMI in patients with baseline BMI ≥25 kg/m2 (mean difference: –0.5 kg/m2; 95% CI: –1.0 to –0.1; p = 0.027). Conclusions: Cardiology involvement in patients with breast cancer treated with trastuzumab is associated with greater adherence to cardiovascular monitoring and modest improvements in risk factor control.

Background: Anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy holds great promise in the treatment of patients with hematologic malignancies. A high occurrence of cardiac dysfunction has been noted in children treated with CAR T cell therapy. Objectives: The aim of this study was to define the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in adult patients treated with CAR T cell therapy and assess the relationships among clinical factors, echocardiographic parameters, laboratory values, and cardiovascular outcomes. Methods: Baseline clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic parameters were collected in 145 adult patients undergoing CAR T cell therapy. MACE included cardiovascular death, symptomatic heart failure, acute coronary syndrome, ischemic stroke, and de novo cardiac arrhythmia. Baseline parameters associated with MACE were identified using Cox proportional cause-specific hazards regression analysis. Results: Thirty-one patients had MACE (41 events) at a median time of 11 days (interquartile range: 6 to 151 days) after CAR T cell infusion. The median follow-up period was 456 days (interquartile range: 128 to 1,214 days). Sixty-one patients died. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) occurred 176 times in 104 patients; the median time to CRS was 6 days (interquartile range: 1 to 8 days). The Kaplan-Meier estimates for MACE and CRS at 30 days were 17% and 53%, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier estimates for survival at 1 year was 71%. Multivariable Cox proportional cause-specific hazards regression analysis determined that baseline creatinine and grade 3 or 4 CRS were independently associated with MACE. Conclusions: Patients treated with CAR T cell therapy are at an increased risk for MACE and may benefit from cardiovascular surveillance. Further large prospective studies are needed to confirm the incidence and risk factors predictive of MACE.