Dr. Abedin on Managing Cardiac Toxicities With Acalabrutinib vs Ibrutinib in CLL

Sameem Abedin, MD, an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, at the Medical College of Wisconsin, discusses managing cardiac toxicities with acalabrutinib (Calquence) vs ibrutinib (Imbruvica) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Cardiac toxicities, such as ventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation, appear to occur less frequently in patients who are treated with acalabrutinib vs ibrutinib, according to Abedin. Additionally, hypertension is reported in approximately 6% of patients receiving acalabrutinib, with ibrutinib eliciting rates of up to 30%, Abedin says.

These features are important to consider, as many of the patients receiving treatment with these agents are older, Abedin adds. Moreover, while not every patient in this population needs to be started on acalabrutinib, it is important to have this option for those who are at risk for cardiac adverse effects, Abedin concludes.