Here is a report with two case studies dealing with immunotherapy and dry eye that may interest you: http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2016/02/anti-pd1-for-melanoma-skin-and-eye.html While is sounds as though you are dealing with more than dry eye…the fact that cyclosporin drops were used with both these patients might be something you'd like to talk with your doc about.
This report addresses salivary issues as side effect:
Inflammatory arthritis and sicca syndrome induced by nivolumab and ipilimumab. Cappelli, Gutierrez, Baer, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2016 Jun 15.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) pathways have demonstrated survival improvements in multiple advanced cancers, but also cause immune-related adverse events (IRAEs). IRAEs with clinical features similar to rheumatic diseases have not been well described. We report patients with inflammatory arthritis and sicca syndrome secondary to ICIs. We report patients evaluated in the Johns Hopkins Rheumatology clinics from 2012 to 2016 identified as having new rheumatological symptoms in the context of treatment with ipilimumab (anti-CTLA-4) and/or nivolumab (anti-PD-1) for solid tumours. We identified 13 patients who received ICIs and developed rheumatological IRAEs. Mean age was 58.7 years. Cancer types included melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer and renal cell carcinoma. ICI regimens included nivolumab or ipilimumab as monotherapy (n=5), or combination nivolumab and ipilimumab (n=8). Nine of 13 patients developed an inflammatory arthritis, 4 with synovitis confirmed on imaging (3 ultrasound, 1 MRI) and 4 with inflammatory synovial fluid. Four patients developed sicca syndrome with severe salivary hypofunction. Other IRAEs included: pneumonitis, colitis, interstitial nephritis and thyroiditis. Antinuclear antibodies were positive in 5 out of 13 patients. All 13 patients were treated with corticosteroids with varying response. Two patients were treated with methotrexate and antitumor necrosis factor therapy for inflammatory arthritis. As ICIs are increasingly used for a range of malignancies, new cases of rheumatic IRAEs are likely to emerge. Further research is required to understand mechanisms, determine risk factors and develop management algorithms for rheumatic IRAEs.
And while this report may not be specific to your symptoms…you might find some needed info here (there is a link to the actual article at the top of my report):
http://chaoticallypreciselifeloveandmelanoma.blogspot.com/2016/07/excellent-pdf-on-how-to-deal-with.html
Hope you find some of this helpful. There are a zillion other reports about side effects to immunotherapy on my blog. But, the short answer is: Steroids and a break from treatment can almost always deal with the symptoms…and YES!, most folks can return to treatment and do well. I wish you my best. Celeste
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