A population-based cohort study has demonstrated that the use of the Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor ibrutinib was associated with cardiovascular risks in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Over a period of 3 years, the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF)-related healthcare contact was 22.7% among patients treated with ibrutinib, as opposed to 11.7% in patients who received chemotherapy. The risk of hospital-diagnosed bleeding was found to be 8.8% vs. 3.1%, and the risk of heart failure (HF) was 7.7% vs. 3.6%, reported researchers in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. No significant differences were noted in the risk of ischemic stroke or acute myocardial infarction between the two groups… (Medpage Today)