title: Changes of blood viscosity in patients treated with 5-fluorouracil--a link to cardiotoxicity?
abstract: Cardiotoxicity is a serious but relatively unknown side-effect of treatment with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). The underlying mechanism of 5-FU cardiotoxicity has not been defined. The aim of the present study was to determine whether hemorheological factors might in part explain 5-FU cardiotoxicity. Changes of blood and plasma viscosity, fibrinogen and hematocrit were studied in 11 patients treated by 5-FU. The study showed a decrease in blood and plasma viscosity during treatment with 5-FU, probably caused by a decrease of plasma fibrinogen. Reversible cardiotoxic effects were demonstrated in four patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University Hospital Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cwikiel
authors.forename: S U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Persson
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Larsson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Albertsson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Eskilsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000187:drug effects; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D005340:Fibrinogen; D005472:Fluorouracil