Doxorubicin-induced ventricular arrhythmia treated by implantation of an automatic cardioverter-defibrillator.
Anthracyclines are a group of potent antitumour agents and cardiotoxicity is an important factor limiting their therapeutic effectiveness. Although cardiomyopathy is the most widely recognized type of cardiotoxic reaction, early arrhythmia following anthracycline administration may be of clinical significance as well. We report a case of ventricular tachycardia causing cardiac arrest in a female treated with doxorubicin as adjuvant therapy of breast cancer. Due to recurrence of the arrhythmia and a desire to continue chemotherapy, an automatic cardioverter-defibrillator was implanted with excellent effect.
Rudzinski
Tomasz
T
2nd Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Lodz, Kniaziewicza 1/5, 91-347 Lodz, Poland. tomek_rudzinski@op.pl
Ciesielczyk
Michal
M
Religa
Wojciech
W
Bednarkiewicz
Zbigniew
Z
Krzeminska-Pakula
Maria
M
D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000009:adverse effects; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
D018943:Anthracyclines; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D004317:Doxorubicin