Proteinuria frequency and subsequent renal dysfunction in bevacizumab-treated patients: A single center, retrospective, observational study

Abstract

Abstract Background Proteinuria is a common adverse event observed during treatment with antivascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies. Proteinuria is a risk factor for renal dysfunction and cardiovascular complications in patients with chronic kidney disease. However, the association between anti-VEGF antibody-induced proteinuria and renal dysfunction or cardiovascular complications remains unclear. Methods The medical records of patients treated with bevacizumab (BV) at Kyoto University Hospital (Kyoto, Japan) between January 2006 and March 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Adverse event rates were compared between patients who developed qualitative ≥ 2 + proteinuria and those who developed < 1 + proteinuria. Adverse events were defined as renal dysfunction (i.e., ≥ 57% decrease in the eGFR, compared to the rate at the initial treatment) and hospitalization due to BV-associated cardiovascular complications and other adverse events. Results In total, 734 patients were included in this analysis. Renal dysfunction was more common in patients with ≥ 2 + proteinuria than in those with < 1 + proteinuria (13/199, 6.5% vs. 13/535, 2.4%). Seven of these 13 patients with ≥ 2 + proteinuria had transient reversible renal dysfunction. Only four (2.0%) patients had BV-associated renal dysfunction. Of the 734 patients, 6 patients, 16 patients, and 13 patients were hospitalized because of the adverse events of cardiovascular complications, thromboembolisms, and cerebrovascular complications, respectively. No relationship was observed between these adverse events and proteinuria. Conclusion BV treatment-induced proteinuria was not associated with renal dysfunction or other adverse events. Continuing BV with caution is a possible treatment option, even after proteinuria develops, in patients with cancer and a limited prognosis.