Ankle-brachial index
Published last year, the first European Society of Cardiology Guidelines on Cardio-Oncology present specific baseline risk-assessment and monitoring recommendations regarding patients treated with nilotinib and ponatinib. One suggests that a cardiovascular risk assessment be done every 3 months during the first year and every 6-12 months thereafter. This assessment would include such items as ECGs, blood pressure measurements, and lipid profile tests.
In addition, it is advised that every 6 months an ankle-brachial index test be performed to check for PAD. At Marseille University Hospital, a Doppler ultrasound is also done at each follow-up appointment to look for arterial plaques, “even for patients at low risk for cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Sarlon. “It seems, above all, absolutely necessary that hematologists order an LDL-C test and, if needed, consider statin therapy,” all the while keeping in mind that “the target LDL-C level is 1 gram per liter.”
This article was translated from the Medscape French edition. A version of this article first appeared on Medscape.com.