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The following is a summary of “Proteinuria following administration of immune check point inhibitor: a case-control observational study,” published in the November 2024 issue of Nephrology by Su et al. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study on proteinuria incidence and risk factors with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). They identified it as a key renal adverse event (AE) alongside acute kidney injury (AKI). 

They conducted a case-control observational study on ICI-treated patients with cancer, collecting clinical and laboratory data at baseline and follow-up. Patients with proteinuria during treatment were classified into the proteinuria group. 

The results showed that among 440 patients (March 2019–August 2022), 48 (10.9%) developed proteinuria after ICIs. AKI occurrence showed no difference between groups [1 (2.1%) vs 9 (2.3%), P=1.000]. Multivariable analysis found ICIs cycles (OR 1.079, 95% CI 1.033–1.127, P=0.001) and liver cirrhosis (OR 2.198, 95% CI 1.082–4.468, P=0.030) independently associated with proteinuria. 

They concluded that proteinuria developed during ICIs therapy and was linked to multiple ICIs cycles and liver cirrhosis. They emphasized regular urinalysis monitoring in such patients. 

Source: bmcnephrol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12882-024-03868-5