Severe cardiotoxicity of high-dose 5-fluorouracil in combination with folinic acid, cisplatin and methotrexate in a 14-year-old boy with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (Schmincke tumor).
Cardiotoxicity by 5-fluorouracil has been reported as a rare complication in treatment protocols for adult patients with different malignant diseases. The combination with folinic acid as a biomodulatory substance and other cytotoxic drugs has been introduced to render protocols more effective and less toxic. We report severe but completely reversible cardiotoxicity of a treatment protocol for nasopharyngeal tumor (Schmincke tumor) of pediatric patients consisting of 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, cisplatin and folinic acid in a 14-year-old boy who had no preexisting cardiac disease. The pathomechanism is briefly discussed.
Blütters-Sawatzki
R
R
Department of Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, Children's University Hospital, Giessen, Germany.
Grathwohl
J
J
Mertens
R
R
Lampert
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*
D002945:Cisplatin; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate