Atrial fibrillation burden and clinical outcomes following BTK inhibitor initiation.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors (BTKi) have dramatic efficacy against B-cell malignancies, but link with cardiotoxicity, including atrial fibrillation (AF). Burden, severity, and implications of BTKi-related AF are unknown. Leveraging a large-cohort of consecutive B-cell malignancy patients initiated on BTKi from 2009-2020, we identified patients with extended ambulatory rhythm monitoring. The primary outcome was AF burden after BTKi-initiation. Secondary outcomes included ventricular arrhythmia burden and other arrhythmias. Observed incident-AF rates and burden with next-generation BTKi's were compared to ibrutinib. Multivariable regression defined association between rhythm measures and major adverse cardiac events (MACE), and mortality. There were 98 BTKi-treated patients [38.8% next-generation BTKi's, 14.3% prior-AF], with 28,224 h of monitoring. Median duration BTKi-use was 34 months. Over mean duration 12 days monitoring, 72.4% developed arrhythmias (16.3% incident-AF, 31.6% other SVTs, 14.3% ventricular tachycardia). 14.3% had high AF-burden. AF-burden was similar between ibrutinib and next-generation BTKi's. No single antiarrhythmic-therapy prevented BTKi-related AF. However, antiarrhythmic initiation associated with reduction in arrhythmic burden (P = 0.009). In a multivariable model accounting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, prior-AF associated with increased post-BTKi AF-burden. In follow-up, high AF burden associated with MACE (HR 3.12, P = 0.005) and mortality (HR 2.97, P = 0.007). Among BTKi-treated patients, high AF burden prognosticates future MACE and mortality risk.

Cardiovascular toxicities associated with bispecific T-cell engager therapy.

BACKGROUND: Bispecific T-cell engagers (BTEs) are novel agents used to treat hematological malignancies. Early trials were underpowered to define cardiovascular adverse events (CVAE) and no large-scale studies systematically examined the CVAEs associated with BTEs. METHODS: Leveraging the US Food and Drug Administration's Adverse Event Reporting System-(FAERS), we identified the relative frequency of CVAEs after initiation of five BTE products approved by the Food and Drug Administration between 2014 and 2023 for the treatment of hematological malignancies. Adjusted reporting ORs (aROR) were used to identify disproportionate reporting of CVAEs with BTEs compared with background rates in the database. Fatality rates and risk ratios (RRs) for each adverse event (AE) were calculated. RESULTS: From 3668 BTE-related cases reported to FAERS, 747 (20.4%) involved CVAEs. BTEs as a class were associated with fatal CVAEs (aROR 1.29 (95% CI 1.12 to 1.50)), an association mainly driven by teclistamab (aROR 2.44 (95% CI 1.65 to 3.60)). Teclistamab was also associated with a disproportionate risk of myocarditis (aROR 25.70 (95% CI 9.54 to 69.23)) and shock (aROR 3.63 (95% CI 2.30 to 5.74)), whereas blinatumomab was associated with a disproportionate risk of disseminated intravascular coagulation (aROR 3.02 (95% CI 1.98 to 4.60)) and hypotension (aROR 1.59 (95% CI 1.25 to 2.03)). CVAEs were more fatal compared with non-CVAEs (31.1% vs 17.4%; RR 1.76 (95% CI 1.54 to 2.03)). Most CVAEs (83.3%) did not overlap with cytokine release syndrome. CONCLUSION: In the first postmarketing surveillance study of BTEs, CVAEs were involved in approximately one in five AE reports and carried a significant mortality risk.

Cardiovascular Toxicities of BTK Inhibitors in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: JACC: CardioOncology State-of-the-Art Review.

Over the past decade, the treatment landscape of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has dramatically changed, shifting from cytotoxic chemotherapy to targeted therapies. Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of CLL and are increasingly applied in many other malignancies. However, ibrutinib, the first BTK inhibitor approved, is associated with serious toxicities, including atrial fibrillation in up to 38% of patients, ventricular arrhythmias, and other cardiovascular toxicities. Emerging data suggest several newer BTK inhibitors (eg, acalabrutinib, zanubrutinib) are still associated with cardiotoxic risks. This review examines the current state of evidence, including incidence rates, risk factors, mechanisms, and management strategies of cardiovascular toxicities with BTK inhibitors and other CLL therapies. We specifically focus on atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias/sudden death, hypertension, heart failure, bleeding, and stroke. We also touch on other emerging BTK therapies (eg, pirtobrutinib). Finally, we highlight key unanswered questions and future directions of research.