Proteinuria following administration of immune check point inhibitor: a case-control observational study

Proteinuria during treatment of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) was another renal adverse event besides from acute kidney injury. We aim to investigate the incidence and associated factors of proteinuria associated with ICIs.

A case-control observational study about ICIs-treated cancer patients was conducted. Clinical and laboratory data at the baseline and during the follow-up was collected. Patients developed proteinuria during ICIs-treatment were classified to the proteinuria group.

Between March 2019 and August 2022, 440 patients were included in the study. Forty-eight patients (10.9%) developed proteinuria after ICIs-treatment. The occurrence of acute kidney injury between the proteinuria group and the control showed no difference[1(2.1%) vs. 9(2.3%), p = 1.000]. By multivariable logistic analysis, accumulative cycle of ICIs-administration (OR 1.079, 95% CI 1.033 to 1.127, p = 0.001) and comorbidity of liver cirrhosis (OR 2.198, 95% CI 1.082 to 4.468, p = 0.030) were associated with occurrence of proteinuria after ICIs-treatment independently.

Proteinuria could develop during the course of ICIs-therapy. Urinalysis should be monitored, especially for patients received multi-cycle of ICIs-administration and comorbid with liver cirrhosis.