Management of side effects of Riflimab: What to do if adverse reactions occur

Retifanlimab (Retifanlimab)-Zynyz is an immune checkpoint inhibitor. Its therapeutic mechanism is to recognize and attack tumor cells by activating the immune system. However, this may also lead to abnormal activation of the immune system and produce a series of immune-related adverse reactions. Common side effects include fatigue, rash, itching, nausea, decreased appetite, diarrhea, and abnormal liver function tests. Less common but serious immune-mediated toxicities may involve pneumonia, hepatitis, enteritis, nephritis, endocrine gland dysfunction such as thyroiditis, adrenal insufficiency, and even inflammatory reactions in the nervous system and heart.

Faced with these potential risks, side effect management has become a key link to ensure the safety of patient treatment and the continuation of therapeutic efficacy. First of all, patients with mild side effects can receive symptomatic treatment while continuing to take medication. For example, antihistamines can be used for skin itching, and mild elevations in liver enzymes require regular monitoring. For moderate or above side effects, such as persistent diarrhea, severe rash, or abnormal liver function, it is recommended to temporarily discontinue the drug and use immunosuppressants such as glucocorticoids for intervention. After the symptoms are significantly relieved, the drug can be gradually resumed based on clinical evaluation. Serious or life-threatening adverse events, such as immune pneumonitis or severe hepatitis, require immediate discontinuation and hospitalization, use of high-dose intravenous corticosteroids and necessary supportive care. During treatment, a complete monitoring system should be established to regularly detect blood routine, liver and kidney function, thyroid function and related immune indicators, and detect abnormalities early and deal with them in a timely manner.

In addition, patients and their families need to strengthen education to understand possible symptoms and report abnormal reactions in a timely manner to avoid delays in treatment. Caution is also required when using combination drugs to avoid co-administration with other immunosuppressants or drugs for liver and kidney damage to reduce the risk of superimposed toxicity. Scientific and systematic side effect management not only improves patients' quality of life, but also ensures the long-term efficacy of refulimab, bringing broader development space for immunotherapy.

Reference materials:https://www.drugs.com/mtm/retifanlimab.html