Diarrhea

doi:10.1017/9781009500760.038

Chapter 38 - Diarrhea

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 April 2026

Molly O’Shea,

Alexa S. Meara and

Jason J. Bischof

Edited by

Angela Bray Lindsay and

Monica Kathleen Wattana

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Angela Bray Lindsay: Affiliation:
Virginia Commonwealth University
Monica Kathleen Wattana: Affiliation:
University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center

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Summary

1. Colitis secondary to an immune related adverse event can occur at any time during the course of treatment, including years after treatment has been completed.

2. Having a high index of suspicion in patients treated or previously treated with immunotherapy is important since symptoms may present subtly.

3. Grade 2 colitis and higher often require steroids for treatment; consider second line treatments in those that are not responding appropriately to steroids.

4. In grade 3 colitis, immunotherapy is typically paused until steroids have been tapered to less than 10 mg per day, but require weighing the risks and benefits of resuming treatment with immunotherapy.

5. Grade 4 colitis requires cessation of immunotherapy treatment.

Keywords

Immunotherapy immune related adverse events colitis immune related colitis diarrhea acute care emergency care emergency department immune checkpoint inhibitors

Information

Type: Chapter
Information: Oncologic Emergency Medicine
Clinical Cases Illustrating Key Concepts
, pp. 204 - 207
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009500760.038 [Opens in a new window]
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2026

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