The safety of bendamustine in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia or non-Hodgkin lymphoma and concomitant renal impairment: a retrospective electronic medical record database analysis

Abstract

This retrospective study compared adverse-event rates in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), with and without renal impairment, receiving bendamustine alone or with rituximab. Patients (n = 940) were stratified into a renally impaired group (creatinine clearance [CrCL] < 40 mL/min) and two comparator groups (CrCL ≥ 40 mL/min and CrCL ≥ 60 mL/min). Renally impaired patients with NHL had a significantly greater incidence of grade 3–4 thrombocytopenia compared with the CrCL ≥ 60 mL/min group (hazard ratio [HR], 2.57; p = 0.025). For CLL and NHL together, grade 3–4 increased blood urea nitrogen was significantly higher in the renally impaired group than in the CrCL ≥ 40 mL/min (HR, 2.36; p = 0.02) and CrCL ≥ 60 mL/min (HR, 4.46; p = 0.001) groups. Based on these results, monitoring blood counts (including platelets) and renal function would be prudent in the management of patients with renal dysfunction and NHL or CLL who receive bendamustine-based regimens.

Keywords::

• Bendamustine
• non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• renal impairment
• retrospective

Acknowledgements

This research was sponsored by and conducted in collaboration with Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D, Inc. Funding for editorial support was provided by Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D, Inc. to The Curry Rockefeller Group, LLC. Assistance with medical writing, editing and styling at the request of and with guidance from the authors was provided by Larry Deblinger and John Norwood at The Curry Rockefeller Group, LLC.

Potential conflict of interest

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