Work

Pharmacovigilance study on the reporting frequency of atrial fibrillation with immune checkpoint inhibitors: insights from FDA Adverse Event Reporting System

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed cancer therapy but are linked with immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including cardiac events. Objective: This study aims to assess the reporting frequency of atrial fibrillation with ICIs using data from the Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Design: It is an observational, retrospective, pharmacovigilance study. Methods: Individual Case Safety Reports (ICSRs) were retrieved from FAERS up to September 24, 2024. Cases reporting one or more ICIs (atezolizumab, avelumab, cemiplimab, dostarlimab, durvalumab, ipilimumab, nivolumab, pembrolizumab, and tremelimumab) and atrial fibrillation were selected. Disproportionality analyses were performed by applying the reporting odds ratio (ROR) and the Informational Component (IC) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: = 248; 20.3%). Atezolizumab, avelumab, durvalumab, nivolumab, and pembrolizumab were associated with a statistically significant higher reporting frequency of atrial fibrillation compared to all other drugs (ROR: 1.90, IC: 0.91; ROR: 1.94, IC: 0.92; ROR: 1.52, IC: 0.60; ROR: 1.30, IC: 0.38; ROR: 1.66, IC: 0.72, respectively). The anti-CTLA-4 ipilimumab showed a statistically significant lower reporting frequency of atrial fibrillation compared to all other drugs (ROR: 0.69, IC: -0.53) and to all other ICIs (ROR: 0.45, IC: -1.02). Moreover, anti-PD-L1 (ROR: 2.60, IC: 0.47) and anti-PD-1 (ROR: 2.12, IC: 0.16) were associated with a higher reporting of atrial fibrillation compared to anti-CTLA-4. Conclusion: ICI-induced atrial fibrillation was serious and had severe outcomes. The anti-CTLA-4 showed a lower likelihood of reporting atrial fibrillation, while higher reporting was found with anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1. Further studies are needed to confirm this safety aspect.

Source: Therapeutic Advances in Drug Safety

DOI: 10.1177/20420986241312497