Functional impairments and rehabilitation outcomes of patients with immunotherapy-induced Acute Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy, Myasthenia Gravis and Myositis.

ABSTRACT Immunotherapy has led to a higher survival rate among different oncological disease groups but also associated with adverse related events in multiple organ systems. Immunotherapy related musculoskeletal weakness often results in a loss of cancer survivors' physical function, ultimately impacting their independence and quality of life. This is a retrospective study of 24 cancer patients who were treated with immunotherapy either alone or in conjunction with other oncological treatments. Twelve (50%) subjects were found to have acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculopathy (AIDP)/Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), 6 (25%) myositis, 2 (8%) Myasthenia Gravis (MG) and 2 (8%) diagnosis of myositis/MG and 1 (4%) GBS/MG combination. Physical Therapy (PT) was provided in 91.7% of the cases and Physiatrist was involved in 54% of the cases. Almost half (45%) were discharged home, 6 (25%) to acute inpatient rehabilitation, 2(8%) to subacute rehabilitation, 3 (12.5%) to hospice and 2 (8%) patients died. The average length of hospital stay was 30 days and eight (33%) patients re-admitted within 3 months. Our findings highlight the severity of functional impairments and the need for early rehabilitation interventions.