Late onset left ventricular dysfunction and cardiomyopathy induced with ibrutinib

Ibrutinib, an oral inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase, has altered the treatment perspective of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and showed modest activity against several types of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. According to phase studies and real-world data, reported serious adverse effects included atrial fibrillation, diarrhea, and bleeding diathesis. However, heart failure was not reported to be a probable adverse effect linked with ibrutinib.

In this paper, we present a 66-year-old female chronic lymphocytic leukemia patient who developed significant and symptomatic left ventricular dysfunction at the 13th month of ibrutinib treatment.

Following cessation of ibrutinib, ejection fraction and clinical findings of the left ventricular dysfunction alleviated.

Although the use of ibrutinib is generally well tolerated, cardiac functions should be monitored occasionally in all patients.