title: Paclitaxel changes sympathetic control of blood pressure.
abstract: Paclitaxel has become part of standard therapy in the treatment of ovarian and breast cancer. Concern has been raised about the effects of paclitaxel on cardiovascular function. Therefore, this study of the effects of paclitaxel on autonomic cardiovascular control was initiated. Eighteen women treated for ovarian or breast cancer were examined with autonomic cardiovascular function tests, once before the treatment and once after the second course of paclitaxel. Heart rate and blood pressure variability and changes in heart rate and blood pressure responses to the tests were measured. Baroreflex sensitivity was calculated from the Valsalva manoeuvre non-invasively. Paclitaxel did not change heart rate variability at rest compared with the pretreatment level. However, medium frequency variability of blood pressure was smaller after treatment with paclitaxel. Paclitaxel treatment did not impair the heart rate and blood pressure responses to the autonomic function tests. The results do imply that paclitaxel alters sympathetic control of blood pressure. Nevertheless, paclitaxel does not appear to precipitate autonomic cardiac neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ekholm
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rantanen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Antila
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salminen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011187:Posture / Q000502:physiology; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D014636:Valsalva Maneuver / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D017239:Paclitaxel