What to do if heart failure occurs while taking Sunitinib

In the safety population pooled during and after treatment with sunitinib, 3% of patients developed heart failure; 71% of patients with heart failure were reported to have recovered. Fatal heart failure has been reported in less than 1% of patients. The use of sunitinib may result in cardiovascular events including heart failure, cardiomyopathy, myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction, some of which are fatal.

In the adjuvant therapy study of renal cell carcinoma,11 patients experienced grade 2 reduced ejection fraction (a 40% to 50% decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] from baseline and a 10% to 19% decrease). In 3 of these 11 patients, the ejection fraction did not return to ≥50% or baseline at the last measurement. None of the patients who received sunitinib had a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. Doctors recommend carefully monitoring patients for clinical signs and symptoms of congestive heart failure (CHF). Sunitin should be discontinued in patients who develop clinical signs of congestive heart failure. For patients without clinical evidence of CHF but with an ejection fraction greater than 20% but less than 50% below baseline or below the lower limit of normal (if a baseline ejection fraction is not obtained), sunitin and/or the dose should be interrupted.

The original sunitinib drug has been launched in China and has entered the scope of Class B medical insurance. SpecificationsThe price of 12.5mg*28 tablets is around RMB 3,500. The original sunitinib drug has also been launched overseas. The price of 12.5mg*7 tablets is around RMB 1,500 (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). There are also generic drugs produced in other countries. The price of 12.5mg*28 tablets produced by an Indian pharmaceutical factory is around RMB 750 (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). The ingredients of the generic drugs produced abroad are basically the same as those of the original drugs at home and abroad. There may be differences in the prices of different specifications of drugs.