Ibrutinib may promote hypertension

Use of ibrutinib appears to contribute to an increased risk of developing hypertension or blood pressure (BP) elevation, according to a study.

The retrospective analysis involved 144 patients with B cell malignancies, among whom 93 were treated with ibrutinib while 51 were given conventional chemoimmunotherapy (control). BP levels were evaluated at months 1, 2, 3, and 6 following treatment initiation.

Hypertension was prevalent in both ibrutinib and control groups, with no marked difference (63.4 percent and 66.7 percent, respectively). Age, sex, and baseline cardiac comorbidities were similar in the two treatment groups.

Both systolic and diastolic BP significantly increased over time in the ibrutinib group but remained stable in the control group. Hypertension status at baseline had no effect on the degree of BP change over time.

In the first month of follow-up, a significant increase in systolic BP levels (>10 mm Hg) occurred more frequently in the ibrutinib than in the control group (36.6 percent vs 7.9 percent).

In terms of hypertension management, more than half of the patients (61.2 percent) in the ibrutinib group did not receive adequate BP management (increase or addition of BP medications), despite being hypertensive at follow-up. Furthermore, among those who showed elevations of >20 mm Hg in systolic BP, only 52.9 percent underwent hypertension management changes.

In light of the findings, cardiologists and oncologists should monitor patients on ibrutinib for timely management of BP elevations.