Severe arthritic syndrome due to ibrutinib use for chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Although newer targeted agents improve survival in cancer patients, they have also been linked with unusual side effects. The most common side effects of Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors include fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, bruising, and cytopenias. We describe herein a case of an unusually severe articular syndrome with the use of ibrutinib in a patient with 17？p minus chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The severity of this side effect led to permanent discontinuation of this agent. As the causality ibrutinib-arthralgia seems legitimate, we expect further similar cases to surface in patients treated with Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors