Risk of irAEs in patients with autoimmune diseases treated by immune checkpoint inhibitors for stage III or IV melanoma: results from a matched case-control study

A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies and uncontrolled trials reporting on the use of checkpoint blockers in patients with cancer and pre-existing autoimmune disease

BACKGROUND

Cancer patients with autoimmune disease have been excluded from randomized trials of immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs). We conducted a systematic review of observational studies and uncontrolled trials including cancer patients with pre-existing autoimmune disease who received ICBs.

METHODS

We searched 5 electronic databases through November 2023. Study selection, data collection, and quality assessment were performed independently by 2 investigators. We performed a meta-analysis to pool incidence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including de novo events and flares of existing autoimmune disease, hospitalizations due to irAEs, as well as deaths.

RESULTS

A total of 95 studies were included (23,897 patients with cancer and preexisting autoimmune disease). The most common cancer evaluated was lung cancer (30.7 %) followed by skin cancer (15.7 %). Patients with autoimmune disease were more likely to report irAEs compared to patients without autoimmune disease (relative risk 1.3, 95 % CI 1.0 to 1.6). The pooled occurrence rate of any irAEs (flares or de novo) was 61 % (95 % CI 54 % to 68 %); that of flares was 36 % (95 % CI 30 % to 43 %), and that of de novo irAEs was 23 % (95 % CI 16 % to 30 %). Flares were mild (grade <3) in half of cases and more commonly reported in patients with psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis (39 %), inflammatory bowel disease (37 %), and rheumatoid arthritis (36 %). 32 % of the patients with irAEs required hospitalization and treatment of irAEs included corticosteroids in 72 % of the cases. The irAEs mortality rate was 0.07 %. There were no statistically significant differences in cancer response to ICBs between patients with and without autoimmune disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Although more patients with pre-existing autoimmune disease had irAEs, these were mild and managed with corticosteroids in most cases, with no impact on cancer response. These results suggest that ICBs can be used in these patients, but careful monitoring is required, as over a third of the patients will experience a flare of their autoimmune disease and/or require hospitalization. These findings provide a crucial foundation for oncologists to refine their monitoring and management strategies, ensuring that the benefits of ICB therapy are maximized while minimizing its risks.

Learning About and Living With Toxicity: A Qualitative Study of Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors For Melanoma or Lung Cancer and Their Caregivers

Background/Objective

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized treatment for melanoma and lung cancer and are in widespread use. This study aims to describe how patients and caregivers learn about ICI toxicities and their perceptions and experiences of toxicity.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative study of 42 patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC; n = 16) or melanoma (n = 26) who were initiating or discontinuing an ICI and their caregivers (n = 9). We conducted in-depth interviews to explore patients' and caregivers' experiences learning about and living with ICI side effects. We audio-recorded the first oncology visit after enrollment. We used a framework approach to code interview and visit transcripts and synthesized codes into themes.

Results

The median age of patients was 67; 68% were male. Themes of participant interviews and clinician-patient dialogue included: i) Patients initiating an ICI received extensive information about side effects, which some patients found overwhelming or scary and difficult to absorb; ii) Patients who were deterred by fear of toxicity ultimately proceeded with treatment because of oncologist encouragement or the sense of no alternative; iii) participants found hope in the association between toxicity and ICI efficacy; iv) caregivers helped patients navigate the deluge of information and uncertainty related to ICIs. Participants suggested ways to improve ICI side effect education, such as incorporating patient stories.

Conclusion

Patients perceived that ICI toxicity counseling was overwhelming yet were encouraged by oncologists' reassurance that serious side effects were manageable and by the framing of toxicity as a sign of efficacy. We identified opportunities to improve communication of ICI risks and benefits.

Pre-existing Autoimmune Diseases and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Cancer Treatment: Considerations About Initiation, Flares, Immune-Related Adverse Events, and Cancer Progression

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are increasingly used to treat a variety of cancer types. Patients with preexisting autoimmune diseases may be vulnerable to underlying disease flare as well as immune-related adverse events from ICIs. There has also been concern that immunosuppression needed to control the autoimmune disease may blunt ICI efficacy. Much of the literature is focused on diverse preexisting autoimmune diseases, which may limit conclusions to specific diseases. There is a growing literature of specific diseases, such as preexisting rheumatoid arthritis, investigating outcomes after ICI.

Univariable and multivariable Mendelian randomization study identified the key role of gut microbiota in immunotherapeutic toxicity

BACKGROUND

In cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), there is emerging evidence suggesting a correlation between gut microbiota and immune-related adverse events (irAEs). However, the exact roles of gut microbiota and the causal associations are yet to be clarified.

METHODS

To investigate this, we first conducted a univariable bi-directional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Instrumental variables (IVs) for gut microbiota were retrieved from the MiBioGen consortium (18,340 participants). GWAS summary data for irAEs were gathered from an ICIs-treated cohort with 1,751 cancer patients. Various MR analysis methods, including inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR PRESSO, maximum likelihood (ML), weighted median, weighted mode, and cML-MA-BIC, were used. Furthermore, multivariable MR (MVMR) analysis was performed to account for possible influencing instrumental variables.

RESULTS

Our analysis identified fourteen gut bacterial taxa that were causally associated with irAEs. Notably, Lachnospiraceae was strongly associated with an increased risk of both high-grade and all-grade irAEs, even after accounting for the effect of BMI in the MVMR analysis. Akkermansia, Verrucomicrobiaceae, and Anaerostipes were found to exert protective roles in high-grade irAEs. However, Ruminiclostridium6, Coprococcus3, Collinsella, and Eubacterium (fissicatena group) were associated with a higher risk of developing high-grade irAEs. RuminococcaceaeUCG004, and DefluviitaleaceaeUCG011 were protective against all-grade irAEs, whereas Porphyromonadaceae, Roseburia, Eubacterium (brachy group), and Peptococcus were associated with an increased risk of all-grade irAEs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis highlights a strong causal association between Lachnospiraceae and irAEs, along with some other gut microbial taxa. These findings provide potential modifiable targets for managing irAEs and warrant further investigation.

Immune-Related Adverse Events of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are toxicities that arise after the administration of monoclonal antibodies targeting immune checkpoints (immune checkpoint inhibitors [ICIs]) in patients with cancer. They can occur at any time after initiation of ICI treatment, with a broad clinical phenotype that can be organ-specific or systemic. Although most irAEs manifest as mild to moderate signs and symptoms, severe forms of irAEs can lead to irreversible organ failure and have acute life-threatening presentations. Treatment should be tailored to the specific organ involved and the severity. Glucocorticoids are the first-line treatment for most irAEs, with immunosuppressants and biologics mainly used as second-line treatments.

Immunomodulator use, risk factors and management of flares, and mortality for patients with pre-existing rheumatoid arthritis after immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate immunomodulator use, risk factors and management for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) flares, and mortality for patients with pre-existing RA initiating immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) for cancer.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients with RA meeting 2010 ACR/EULAR criteria that initiated ICI for cancer at Mass General Brigham or Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA (2011-2022). We described immunomodulator use and changes at baseline of ICI initiation. We identified RA flares after baseline, categorized the severity, and described the management. Baseline factors were examined for RA flare risk using Fine and Gray competing risk models. We performed a landmark analysis to limit the potential for immortal time bias, where the analysis started 3 months after ICI initiation. Among those who survived at least 3 months, we examined whether RA flare within 3 months after ICI initiation was associated with mortality using Cox regression.

RESULTS

Among 11,901 patients who initiated ICI for cancer treatment, we analyzed 100 pre-existing RA patients (mean age 70.3 years, 63 % female, 89 % on PD-1 monotherapy, 50 % lung cancer). At ICI initiation, 71 % were seropositive, 82 % had remission/low RA disease activity, 24 % were on glucocorticoids, 35 % were on conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and 10 % were on biologic or targeted synthetic DMARDs. None discontinued glucocorticoids and 3/35 (9 %) discontinued DMARDs in anticipation of starting ICI. RA flares occurred in 46 % (incidence rate 1.84 per 1000 person-months, 95 % CI 1.30, 2.37); 31/100 flared within 3 months of baseline. RA flares were grade 1 in 16/46 (35 %), grade 2 in 25/46 (54 %), and grade 3 in 5/46 (11 %); 2/46 (4 %) required hospitalization for RA flare. Concomitant immune-related adverse events occurred in 15/46 (33 %) that flared. A total of 72/100 died during follow-up; 21 died within 3 months of baseline. Seropositivity had an age-adjusted sdHR of 1.95 (95 % CI 1.02, 3.71) for RA flare compared to seronegativity, accounting for competing risk of death. Otherwise, no baseline factors were associated with RA flare, including cancer type, disease activity, RA duration, and deformities. 9/46 (20 %) patients had their ICI discontinued/paused due to RA flares. In the landmark analysis among 79 patients who survived at least 3 months, RA flare in the first 3 months was not associated with lower mortality (adjusted HR 1.24, 95 % CI 0.71, 2.16) compared to no RA flare.

CONCLUSION

Among patients with pre-existing RA, few changed immunomodulator medications in anticipation of starting ICI, but RA flares occurred in nearly half. RA flares were mostly mild and treated with typical therapies. Seropositivity was associated with RA flare risk. A minority had severe RA flares requiring disruption of ICI, and RA flares were not associated with mortality.

Predictive Factors in Metastatic Melanoma Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: From Clinical Practice to Future Perspective

The introduction of immunotherapy revolutionized the treatment landscape in metastatic melanoma. Despite the impressive results associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), only a portion of patients obtain a response to this treatment. In this scenario, the research of predictive factors is fundamental to identify patients who may have a response and to exclude patients with a low possibility to respond. These factors can be host-associated, immune system activation-related, and tumor-related. Patient-related factors can vary from data obtained by medical history (performance status, age, sex, body mass index, concomitant medications, and comorbidities) to analysis of the gut microbiome from fecal samples. Tumor-related factors can reflect tumor burden (metastatic sites, lactate dehydrogenase, C-reactive protein, and circulating tumor DNA) or can derive from the analysis of tumor samples (driver mutations, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and myeloid cells). Biomarkers evaluating the immune system activation, such as IFN-gamma gene expression profile and analysis of circulating immune cell subsets, have emerged in recent years as significantly correlated with response to ICIs. In this manuscript, we critically reviewed the most updated literature data on the landscape of predictive factors in metastatic melanoma treated with ICIs. We focus on the principal limits and potentiality of different methods, shedding light on the more promising biomarkers.

Effectiveness and Safety of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Cancer Patients With Autoimmune Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment, patients with pre-existing autoimmune diseases (PADs) have largely been excluded from clinical trials evaluating this drug class. This study evaluates the effectiveness and safety of ICI therapy in individuals with PAD in a real-world setting. A retrospective study of patients exposed to ICI therapy between 2012 and 2019 was conducted. Patients with PAD were identified and matched to an ICI-exposed group without PAD based on age, sex, and cancer type. Primary outcomes included toxicity, time to treatment failure, overall survival, and objective response rate. The association between PAD status and outcomes was determined using Cox and logistic regression modeling. A total of 813 patients exposed to ICI therapy were identified, of which 8.2% (N=67) had a PAD. When compared with a matched cohort without PAD (N=132), there was no significant difference in the rates of new immune-related adverse events (irAEs, 42.4% in the non-PAD group vs. 47.8% in the PAD group, P=0.474). After controlling for the type of ICI, there was no significant association between PAD status and irAE (odds ratio 1.67, 95% CI: 0.9-3.21 P=0.1). There was no significant association between overall survival and PAD status (hazard ratio 1.12, 95% CI: 0.76-1.66. P=0.56) or between time to treatment failure and PAD status (hazard ratio 0.82, 95% CI: 0.6-1.12, P=0.22). There was an association between PAD status and objective response rate (odds ratio 3.28, 95% CI: 1.28-8.38, P=0.013). In summary, PAD status was not associated with enhanced toxicity when compared with patients without PAD, with similar oncologic effectiveness between these 2 groups.

CD4 T cells and toxicity from immune checkpoint blockade

Immune-related toxicities, otherwise known as immune-related adverse events (irAEs), occur in a substantial fraction of cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Ranging from asymptomatic to life-threatening, ICI-induced irAEs can result in hospital admission, high-dose corticosteroid treatment, ICI discontinuation, and in some cases, death. A deeper understanding of the factors underpinning severe irAE development will be essential for improved irAE prediction and prevention, toward maximizing the benefits and safety profiles of ICIs. In recent work, we applied mass cytometry, single-cell RNA sequencing, single-cell V(D)J sequencing, bulk RNA sequencing, and bulk T-cell receptor (TCR) sequencing to identify pretreatment determinants of severe irAE development in patients with advanced melanoma. Across 71 patients separated into three cohorts, we found that two baseline features in circulation-elevated activated CD4 effector memory T-cell abundance and TCR diversity-are associated with severe irAE development, independent of the affected organ system within 3 months of ICI treatment initiation. Here, we provide an extended perspective on this work, synthesize and discuss related literature, and summarize practical considerations for clinical translation. Collectively, these findings lay a foundation for data-driven and mechanistic insights into irAE development, with the potential to reduce ICI morbidity and mortality in the future.

Immune-related adverse events after immune checkpoint inhibitor exposure in adult cancer patients with pre-existing autoimmune diseases

PURPOSE

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy can predispose patients to immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and autoimmune disease (AD) flare-ups, but the characteristics of irAEs among patients with pre-existing ADs are largely unknown. We conducted this study to determine the clinical courses, irAEs, AD flares, treatment, and outcomes of patients with AD on ICIs.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of adult cancer patients at a large cancer center who were diagnosed with ADs before undergoing ICI therapy. Patients' clinical courses, complications, treatments, and outcomes related to both ADs flares and irAEs were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

The study included 197 patients. Most (55.4%) were women. Melanoma comprised the highest proportion (28.4%) of malignancies, and most (83.8%) patients received PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Fifty (25.3%) patients developed a new irAE after starting ICI therapy, while 29 (14.7%) patients had an AD flare-up. Patients with inflammatory bowel disease had the highest incidence of AD flare-ups (31.7%), while patients with Hashimoto hypothyroidism had the highest incidence of new irAEs (39.2%). Patients with inflammatory bowel disease had more severe adverse events. In our cohort, patients with a new diagnosis of irAE were treated with immunosuppressive therapy. AD flares were managed similarly. With regard to irAE manifestations, the most common presentations were colitis (24 [12.1%] patients), hepatic transaminase elevations (8 [4%] patients), and pneumonitis (7 [3.5%] patients).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that patients with gastrointestinal and rheumatologic ADs had a higher incidence of AD flare-ups, while patients with Hashimoto hypothyroidism and neurologic ADs had a higher incidence of new irAEs. Patients with prior ADs experiencing flare-ups or new irAEs after ICI therapy tend to require aggressive immunosuppressive treatment. Thorough evaluation of baseline disease status, appropriate medical management before ICI therapy, and early recognition of inflammatory exacerbation may help ensure long-term success in treating and improving outcomes in these patients.

Immune-related adverse effects of checkpoint immunotherapy and implications for the treatment of patients with cancer and autoimmune diseases

During the past decade, there has been a revolution in cancer therapeutics by the emergence of antibody-based immunotherapies that modulate immune responses against tumors. These therapies have offered treatment options to patients who are no longer responding to classic anti-cancer therapies. By blocking inhibitory signals mediated by surface receptors that are naturally upregulated during activation of antigen-presenting cells (APC) and T cells, predominantly PD-1 and its ligand PD-L1, as well as CTLA-4, such blocking agents have revolutionized cancer treatment. However, breaking these inhibitory signals cannot be selectively targeted to the tumor microenvironment (TME). Since the physiologic role of these inhibitory receptors, known as immune checkpoints (IC) is to maintain peripheral tolerance by preventing the activation of autoreactive immune cells, IC inhibitors (ICI) induce multiple types of immune-related adverse effects (irAEs). These irAEs, together with the natural properties of ICs as gatekeepers of self-tolerance, have precluded the use of ICI in patients with pre-existing autoimmune diseases (ADs). However, currently accumulating data indicates that ICI might be safely administered to such patients. In this review, we discuss mechanisms of well established and newly recognized irAEs and evolving knowledge from the application of ICI therapies in patients with cancer and pre-existing ADs.

Mortality and immune-related adverse events after immune checkpoint inhibitor initiation for cancer among patients with pre-existing rheumatoid arthritis: a retrospective, comparative, cohort study

Background

Patients with pre-existing rheumatoid arthritis initiating immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer might be at risk of increased mortality, rheumatoid arthritis flares, and other immune-related adverse events (AEs). We aimed to determine whether pre-existing rheumatoid arthritis was associated with higher mortality and immune-related AE risk in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Methods

This retrospective, comparative cohort study was conducted at the Mass General Brigham Integrated Health Care System and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston (MA, USA). We searched data repositories to identify all individuals who initiated immune checkpoint inhibitors from April 1, 2011, to April 21, 2021. Patients with pre-existing rheumatoid arthritis had to meet the 2010 American College of Rheumatology-European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (ACR-EULAR) criteria. For each pre-existing rheumatoid arthritis case, we matched up to three non-rheumatoid arthritis comparators at the index date of immune checkpoint inhibitor initiation by sex (recorded as male or female), calendar year, immune checkpoint inhibitor target, and cancer type and stage. The coprimary outcomes were time from index date to death and time to the first immune-related AE, measured using an adjusted Cox proportional hazards model. Deaths were identified by medical record and obituary review. Rheumatoid arthritis flares and immune-related AE presence, type, and severity were determined by medical record review.

Findings

We identified 11 901 patients who initiated immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer treatment between April 1, 2011, and April 21, 2021; of those, 101 met the 2010 ACR-EULAR criteria for rheumatoid arthritis. We successfully matched 87 patients with pre-existing rheumatoid arthritis to 203 non-rheumatoid arthritis comparators. The median age was 71·2 years (IQR 63·2-77·1). 178 (61%) of 290 participants were female, 112 (39%) were male and 268 (92%) participants were White. PD-1 was the most common immune checkpoint inhibitor target (80 [92%] of 87 patients with rheumatoid arthritis vs 188 [93%] of 203 comparators). Lung cancer was the most common cancer type (43 [49%] vs 114 [56%]), followed by melanoma (21 [24%] vs 50 [25%]). 60 (69%) patients with rheumatoid arthritis versus 127 (63%) comparators died (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] of 1·16 [95% CI 0·86-1·57]; p=0·34). 53 (61%) patients with rheumatoid arthritis versus 99 (49%) comparators had any all-grade immune-related AE (adjusted HR 1·72 [95% CI 1·20-2·47]; p=0·0032). There were two (1%) grade 5 immune-related AEs (deaths) due to myocarditis, both in the comparator group. Rheumatoid arthritis flares occurred in 42 (48%) patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory arthritis occurred in 14 (7%) comparators (p<0·0001). Those with rheumatoid arthritis were less likely to have rash or dermatitis (five [6%] vs 28 [14%]; p=0·048), endocrinopathy (two [2%] vs 22 [11%]; p=0·0078), colitis or enteritis (six [7%] vs 28 [14%] comparators; p=0·094), and hepatitis (three [3%] vs 19 [9%]; p=0·043).

Interpretation

Patients with pre-existing rheumatoid arthritis initiating immune checkpoint inhibitors had similar risk of mortality and severe immune-related AEs as matched comparators. Although patients with pre-existing rheumatoid arthritis were more likely to have immune-related AEs, this finding was mostly due to mild rheumatoid arthritis flares. These results suggest that this patient population can safely receive immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer treatment.

Funding

None.

Rheumatic Immune-Related Adverse Events due to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors—A 2023 Update

With the aging of the population, malignancies are becoming common complications in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), particularly in elderly patients. Such malignancies often interfere with RA treatment. Among several therapeutic agents, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) which antagonize immunological brakes on T lymphocytes have emerged as a promising treatment option for a variety of malignancies. In parallel, evidence has accumulated that ICIs are associated with numerous immune-related adverse events (irAEs), such as hypophysitis, myocarditis, pneumonitis, and colitis. Moreover, ICIs not only exacerbate pre-existing autoimmune diseases, but also cause de novo rheumatic disease–like symptoms, such as arthritis, myositis, and vasculitis, which are currently termed rheumatic irAEs. Rheumatic irAEs differ from classical rheumatic diseases in multiple aspects, and treatment should be individualized based on the severity. Close collaboration with oncologists is critical for preventing irreversible organ damage. This review summarizes the current evidence regarding the mechanisms and management of rheumatic irAEs with focus on arthritis, myositis, and vasculitis. Based on these findings, potential therapeutic strategies against rheumatic irAEs are discussed.

Blood cell counts can predict adverse events of immune checkpoint inhibitors: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Cancer is concerning owing to its high mortality rate. Consequently, methods of prolonging the life of patients with cancer have become the primary focus of attention research. In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have achieved good clinical efficacy as antitumor drugs; however, their severe adverse effects have made their use challenging. In order to clarify the predictors of adverse effects, scientists have conducted a series of studies. Blood counts can potentially monitor risk factors associated with the occurrence of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Herein, a meta-analysis was performed to clarify further the guiding significance of blood counts in the clinical setting.

Methods

Studies that satisfied the inclusion criteria were obtained by searching the database. Included studies were those in which irAEs had been observed, and evidence of an association between blood counts and irAEs was reported. The included ones were evaluated for quality. In addition to sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis, a meta-analysis was performed using the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for each study.

Results

A total of 18 articles were included in our study. The analyses were performed separately according to different blood cell count indicators. The blood cell count metrics associated with irAEs were: absolute eosinophil count, neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio, and platelet: lymphocyte ratio.

Conclusion

Our review and meta-analysis of studies suggest that absolute eosinophil count, neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio, and platelet: lymphocyte ratio may serve as predictors of the emergence of irAEs. Given the small number of studies focusing on the relationship between patient blood cell counts and the risk of irAEs, future studies need to further explore the mechanisms of occurrence and potential associations.

Treatment of rheumatic adverse events of cancer immunotherapy

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), used to treat many advanced cancers, activate the immune system to elicit an antitumor response. ICIs can also cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs) when nontumor tissues are affected by excess inflammation and autoimmunity. Rheumatic irAEs include inflammatory arthritis, myositis, sicca syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, and several other rare phenotypes. Treating rheumatic irAEs requires balancing the desire to decrease off-target inflammation while not negatively impacting the antitumor immune response. In this review, treatment recommendations for rheumatic irAEs have been discussed. Pathogenesis of rheumatic irAEs has been briefly reviewed. Knowledge about the effects of corticosteroids and steroid-sparing agents on tumor responses has been detailed to give context for treatment decisions. Recommendations ultimately depend not only on the clinical presentation and severity of the irAE but also on the goals of cancer treatment. Finally, how to safely use ICI therapy in patients with preexisting autoimmune diseases is considered.