Ibrutinib induced atrial fibrillation complicated with massive hemoptysis

Abstract

Background: The oncologic patient faces multiple adverse effects with cytotoxic medications, from tissue damage and intoxications that could be evident from muscle damage, neurologic to cardiac toxicity. Case: This is a case of a 79-year-old female who presented to our ED with the complaint of hemoptysis for one day, denied any associated cough, fever, chills, chest pain, SOB, nausea, vomiting, or abdominal pain. No history of trauma. Her medical history includes hypertension, uterine cancer status post-resection. The patient denied prior similar episodes, family history of similar complaints. Chest X-ray showed extensive bilateral infiltrates and cardiomegaly. CT chest ruled out pulmonary em-bolism but showed extensive multifocal pneumonia vs. ARDS, lymphoproliferative changes. While in the ED, the patient started having bloody nasal secretions noted, requiring nasogastric lavage revealing dark blood secretions, and then started having massive hemoptysis and rapidly decompensated requir-ing endotracheal intubation hypoxic respiratory failure. An emergent bronchoscopy was performed, which showed suspected alveolar hemorrhage (Figure 1). The CBC showed severe anemia requiring multiple transfusions due to active bleeding (Table 1). The patient was admitted to ICU. The patient’s PCP was contacted to obtain further information that reported a new history of atrial fi-brillation on rivaroxaban recently started, CLL on ibrutinib, and Coombs Hemolytic Anemia. The hospital course was complicated by distributive shock and ARDS. She was covered with broad-spectrum antibiotics and required fresh frozen plasma due to persistent bleeding. The patient improved after anticoagulation and ibrutinib were held. The patient was eventually extubated, required physical therapy for deconditioning, and then was discharged. Conclusion: This case represents clear evidence of how an appropriate assessment on time and the collateral gath-ering of medical history could impact the outcome of our patients. The literature review has shown new-onset atrial fibrillation and bleeding events related to ibrutinib. Given the risk for bleeding with rivaroxaban, their combination could present with massive alveolar hemorrhage that could become fa-tal if not recognized early.