Long-term hypertension and cardiovascular toxicity with ibrutinib for chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Continuous ibrutinib administration is needed to maintain efficacy in patients with CLL. Long-term toxicity is a concern. A study at MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX) investigated five-year incidence of hypertension and cardiovascular toxicities with ibrutinib for CLL. The study found that hypertension is a common toxicity in CLL patients who receive ibrutinib, but is manageable in most patients. Other than chronic kidney disease, baseline cardiovascular disease did not affect ibrutinib-related hypertension, nor was hypertension associated with major adverse cardiovascular events or survival.