Prediction of cardiovascular events in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia using baseline risk factors and coronary artery calcium scoring.

A standardised method for cardiovascular risk stratification in chronic myeloid leukaemia patients treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors is lacking. We report an algorithm for risk stratification applicable to all patients commencing tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy based on age, prior cardiovascular disease and Framingham Risk Score, incorporating coronary artery calcium scoring in patients at intermediate Framingham Risk Score risk. Of 88 patients retrospectively studied, major adverse cardiovascular event rates in our study-defined low-, intermediate- and high-risk categories were 0%, 10% and 19% respectively. Of nine patients down-classified from intermediate to low risk on the basis of coronary artery calcium scoring, none went on to experience a major adverse cardiovascular event.

An association between Dasatinib, elevated left atrial pressure and pleural effusion.

BACKGROUND: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI), such as Dasatinib, are effective in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) but associated with development of pleural effusions (PE). The relationship between haemodynamic parameters identified on transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) such as elevated estimated left atrial pressure (LAP), and PE development is unknown. This study aims to describe associations between Dasatinib, elevated LAP and PE. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 71 CML patients who underwent TTE during treatment with various TKIs. Descriptive analysis was performed to identify associations between TKI use, PE and elevated LAP on TTE. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of elevated LAP. RESULTS: There were 36 patients treated with Dasatinib, 15 Nilotinib, and 20 Imatinib. Those treated with Dasatinib had higher rates of elevated LAP (44% vs 7% Nilotinib vs 10% Imatinib, p < 0.01) and PE (39% vs 7% vs 0%, p < 0.01). In the 15 patients who developed PE, 14 (93%) patients were treated with Dasatinib. Patients with PE had higher rates of elevated LAP (67% vs 16%, p < 0.01). Nineteen (26.8%) patients in the entire cohort had elevated LAP. After multivariate adjustment, Dasatinib (OR 33.50, 95% CI = 4.99-224.73, p < 0.01) and age (OR 1.12, 95% CI = 1.04-1.20, p < 0.01) were associated with elevated LAP. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with CML, there was an association between Dasatinib use, PE and elevated LAP on TTE. These findings are hypothesis generating and further studies are required to evaluate the utility of elevated LAP on TTE as a novel marker for prediction and surveillance of PE.