Arterial hypertension associated with PARPi: A meta-analysis of 41 placebo randomized controlled trials combined with a World Health Organization's pharmacovigilance study

Background

Arterial hypertension has been recently reported from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi).

Objective

In a context of increasing use of PARPi, it is crucial to properly assess risk and incidence of this adverse event for clinical practice.

Methods

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis in MEDLINE, Cochrane CENTRAL and ClinicalTrials.gov up to January 4, 2023 with an ongoing surveillance up to June 7, 2023. RCTs comparing PARPi to placebo in adult patients with solid tumors were included if hypertension was reported. The primary outcome was the summary risk ratio (RR, with 95% CIs) of any hypertension of PARPi class in placebo RCTs. Secondary outcomes were the summary risk and incidence of hypertension of each individual PARPi. To provide clinical features of PARPi-associated hypertension, we independently queried the WHO's pharmacovigilance database, up to September 1, 2022.

Results

In total, 41 placebo RCTs (n = 15 264 adult patients) were included. PARPi class was not associated with an increased risk of hypertension compared with placebo. In individual analyses, the risk of hypertension was lower with olaparib than placebo (RR 0.77 [95% CI: 0.68–0.86], P < 0.01; I² = 19%, χ² P = 0.26). Niraparib monotherapy increased the risk of any (RR 2.84 [95% CI: 1.76–4.57], P < 0.01; I² = 66%, χ² P = 0.01) hypertension with a summary incidence of 19.87% (95% CI: 15.23–25.50). In real-life setting, niraparib-associated hypertension occurs within 20 days and was serious in 66%. Co-prescription of at least one antihypertensive or therapy-induced hypertension was reported in 20.5% or 14.4% of cases, respectively.

Conclusions

In a context of extensive assessment of niraparib in combination, these data reinforce the need of a close monitoring of this adverse event to preserve its clinical benefit on patients' survival.