Pneumonia in CLL Patients Treated with Venetoclax
Author Information
Author(s): Kalicińska Elżbieta, Jabłonowska-Babij Paula, Morawska Marta, Iskierka-Jażdżewska Elżbieta, Drozd-Sokołowska Joanna, Paszkiewicz-Kozik Ewa, Szukalski Łukasz, Strzała Judyta, Gosik Urszula, Dębski Jakub, Andrasiak Iga, Skotny Anna, Jamroziak Krzysztof, Wróbel Tomasz, Gibson Spencer Bruce B.
Primary Institution: Wroclaw Medical University
Hypothesis
What is the incidence of pneumonia in CLL patients treated with venetoclax-based regimens and its impact on survival?
Conclusion
Pneumonia occurs more frequently in CLL patients treated with venetoclax than previously reported and negatively impacts overall survival, especially in relapsed/refractory cases.
Supporting Evidence
- 20% of patients developed pneumonia during treatment.
- Patients with R/R CLL treated with R-VEN had worse overall survival if they developed pneumonia.
- Neutropenia was common but not linked to increased pneumonia risk.
- Key risk factors for pneumonia included COPD/asthma, splenomegaly, elevated creatinine, and severe anemia.
Takeaway
This study found that many patients with a type of blood cancer called CLL get pneumonia when treated with a specific medicine, which can make it harder for them to survive.
Methodology
This multicenter study analyzed data from 322 CLL patients treated with venetoclax-based regimens across eight centers.
Potential Biases
Potential biases due to the retrospective nature and lack of randomization.
Limitations
The study is retrospective and lacks complete data on pneumonia dates and microbiological etiology.
Participant Demographics
Median age was 63 years, with 62% male; patients treated with O-VEN were older (median age 68).
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95%CI 1.16–3.74
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website