Cardiac Adverse Events in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treated With First-Line Ibrutinib-Venetoclax.

What was studied

This review looked at heart side effects of ibrutinib plus venetoclax. The pair is used as first treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The authors pooled prospective studies. They also compared randomized trials of this pair with chemoimmunotherapy. The searches covered 2014 to 2025. The pooled analysis included 1522 patients. The main outcome was summed cardiovascular events.

What they found

Atrial fibrillation and high blood pressure were the main ones. Ventricular rhythm problems and heart deaths were uncommon. In trials, the pair carried higher risks than chemoimmunotherapy. The risk ratio was 3.61 for summed events. It was 5.50 for atrial fibrillation. It was 3.73 for high blood pressure. Grade 3 or higher events had even higher ratios.

What it means for patients

The authors say the pair is linked to a clinically meaningful rise in cardiac toxicity. This was mainly atrial fibrillation and high blood pressure. They say ventricular rhythm problems and heart deaths stay rare. They say heart risk should be assessed and monitored with its use.

Why it is not certain yet

The comparison with chemoimmunotherapy used few randomized trials. The ranges around some ratios were wide. The abstract does not give long-term heart outcomes. Studies of the pair were prospective.

Source

Cardiac Adverse Events in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treated With First-Line Ibrutinib-Venetoclax.

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