Evaluation of apatinib-related hypertension and identification of
clinical risk factors
Abstract
Background: Antineoplastic therapy with the tyrosine kinase
inhibitor(TKI) apatinib in patients with advanced or metastatic gastric
or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma(GC) has been associated with
hypertension (HTN), but little is known about predisposing clinical
characteristics. This study describes the real-world association between
baseline clinical characteristics and blood pressure (BP) response in
patients prescribed apatinib with GC. Methods: 55 GC patients treated
with apatinib were collected from the 1st December 2016 to the 1st
December 2020 using medical records retrospectively. Outcomes were
defined using the National Cancer Institute’s Common Terminology
Criteria for Adverse Events v5.0. Univariate and multivariable logistic
regression were used to investigate potential clinical risk factors.
Results: 45.45% of patients were evaluated for apatinib-related HTN and
Grade 3 HTN occurred 16.36% of patients. Median maximal systolic blood
pressure (SBP) during apatinib treatment was 153 mmHg with median time
to event of 25 days. New-onset HTN occurred in 10/33 (30.30%) patients.
pre-existing HTN(odds ratio [OR]: 4.155; 95% confidence interval
[CI]: 1.252-13.787; p =0.020 was key independent risk factors
associated with apatinib-related HTN. Conclusions: More thorough BP
monitor prior to starting apatinib especially in patients with
pre-existing hypertension may reduce cardiovascular risk.