Venetoclax and hypomethylating agents in critically ill patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia

Summary Venetoclax (VEN) in combination with hypomethylating agents (HMAs) is considered the standard of treatment for individuals with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) who are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. We conducted a retrospective analysis that encompassed 16 critically ill patients newly diagnosed with AML who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and received the VEN and HMA regimen. Among them, 13 were primary AML, and three were MDS‐transformed AML. The mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score was 18.9, and the mean sepsis‐related organ failure assessment score (SOFA) was 6.2. The average length of the ICU stay was 27.3 days. The median duration of VEN administration was 16 days. After the first course of VEN + HMA, 12 cases (75%) achieved complete remission (CR) or CR with incomplete haematological recovery (CRi). Among the five patients harbouring TP53 mutations, the overall response rate (ORR) was 90%. All patients experienced grade 3–4 haematological adverse events (AEs). With a median follow‐up of 9.5 months (range: 0.5–23), the overall survival (OS) rate was 43.75%. TP53‐wild patients and CR state after the first course of VEN–HMA indicated better survival. The combination of VEN and HMA has demonstrated a significantly elevated therapeutic response rate in newly diagnosed AML patients with critical illness.