CARFILZOMIB-BASED REGIMEN AND CARDIOTOXICITY IN MULTIPLE MYELOMA: INCIDENCE OF CARDIOVASCU-LAR EVENTS AND ORGAN DAMAGE IN CARFILZOMIB-DEXAMETHASONE VERSUS CARFIL-ZOMIB-LENALIDOMIDE

Abstract

Objective: Cardiotoxicity is a known adverse effect of Carfilzomib therapy, nevertheless few data are available on cardiovascular complications induced by different Carfilzomib-regimens in a real-life setting. The aim of this perspective study was to investigate the difference in incidence and time of onset of cardiovascular adverse events between Kd and KRd in MM patients in real-life conditions. Furthermore, we investigated differences in subclinical organ damage (both cardiac and vascular ) induced by the two regimens, and offer a discussion on how these data might support different follow up strategies for patients treated with Kd or KRd regimen Design and method: In this prospective study, adults with MM who had haematological indication to Kd or KRd, were consecutively enrolled. They underwent a baseline cardiovascular assessment before treatment initiation and a follow-up evaluation at 6 months, including office blood pressure measurements, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, 12-leads EKG, trans-thoracic echocardiography with global longitudinal strain assessment (GLS), and estimation of arterial stiffness by the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) measurement. Results: A total of 109 patients were enrolled, 47 (43%) received Kd and 62 (57%) KRd. All-types of cardiovascular and hypertensive events occurred more frequently in Kd group compared to KRd (59% vs 40% and 55% vs 35.5% patients, respectively, p<0.05), with higher incidence of hypertensive urgencies. Furthermore, the time of onset of all-type of CVAEs, major and hypertensive event was shorter in Kd regimen compared to KRd (3.6 vs. 10.2 months, 4.0 vs. 10.8 months and 8.6 vs. 14.6 months, respectively (p < 0.05)). At follow-up, Kd patients developed more frequently signs of cardiac as decline of global longitudinal strain (-19.7 vs -21.3, p = 0.009) and vascular organ damage demonstrated by a rise of pulse wave velocity (8.5 vs 1.9, p = 0.009), with respect to KRd. Conclusions: In conclusion, Kd regimen showed greater cardiovascular toxicity with respect to KRd and earlier onset of events. Thus, a closer and careful follow-up should be considered.