Ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation for monitoring of bleeding tendency in CLL treated with ibrutinib

Leukemia. 2017 May;31(5):1117-1122. doi: 10.1038/leu.2016.316. Epub 2016 Nov 2.

Abstract

Bleeding because of impaired platelet function is a major side effect of the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor ibrutinib. We quantitatively assessed ristocetin-induced platelet aggregation (RIPA) in 64 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) under ibrutinib at 287 time points. Eighty-seven bleeding episodes in 39 patients were registered (85 Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) grade 1 or 2, 2 CTC grade 3) during a median observation period of 10.9 months. At times of bleeding, RIPA values were significantly lower (14 vs 28 U; P<0.0001). RIPA was impaired in patients receiving concomitant antiplatelet therapy or anticoagulation (14 vs 25 U, P=0.005). A gradual decline of median RIPA values was observed with increasing bleeding severity. Importantly, no CTC grade 2 or 3 bleeding were observed with RIPA values of >36 U. Sequential monitoring indicated a decrease of RIPA values from a median of 17 to 9 U within 2 weeks after initiation of treatment as well as an increase above the critical threshold of 36 U within 7 days when ibrutinib was paused. Low RIPA values were similar during treatment with another BTK inhibitor, CC292. Quantitative assessment of platelet function is a practical tool to monitor bleeding tendency under BTK-inhibitor therapy.

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adenine / analogs & derivatives
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Drug Monitoring / methods
  • Female
  • Hemorrhage / chemically induced*
  • Hemorrhage / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / complications
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Piperidines
  • Platelet Aggregation / drug effects*
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Pyrazoles / administration & dosage
  • Pyrazoles / adverse effects*
  • Pyrimidines / administration & dosage
  • Pyrimidines / adverse effects*
  • Ristocetin / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Piperidines
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • Pyrazoles
  • Pyrimidines
  • Ristocetin
  • ibrutinib
  • Adenine