Atrial fibrillation as a side effect of ibrutinib treatment in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia who are treated with ibrutinib.  

This study concluded that atrial fibrillation does not require ibrutinib treatment to be stopped but is associated with worse outcomes for these patients. 

Ibrutinib (Imbruvica) can be used as a treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). One side effect of ibrutinib treatment is an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF). AF is an irregular heart beat that can lead to stroke, heart failure, clots and other heart related complications.  

The occurrence and outcomes of AF in patients with CLL is still unknown.  

This study involved 298 patients with CLL. All patients had received ibrutinib treatment for an average of 19 months.  

51 (17.1%) patients developed AF related to ibrutinib treatment. The risk of AF at 6 months was 9%. The risk of treatment emergent AF at 1 year was 12% and at 2 years was 16%.  

Past history of AF and heart failure were two factors that were associated with an increased risk of AF in people treated with ibrutinib. Other factors that increased the risk of AF in these patients were age over 65, sleep apnea and high blood pressure.

Most patients continued ibrutinib therapy. 43% of patients had a dose reduction. The development of treatment-related AF was associated with shorter survival.

This study concluded that patient certain additional medical conditions predict the risk of treatment-related AF in CLL patients treated with ibrutinib. It was also concluded that the majority of these patients can continue ibrutinib treatment. 

This study was based on medical records. Information might have been incomplete. Also, all patients were from a University clinic. Therefore the results may not apply to the general population.

Consult your physician if you have concerns about the risk of treatment-related AF.