title: Clinical and electrocardiography changes in patients treated with capecitabine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to identify the incidence of cardiac events with capecitabine treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 52 patients (median age 59 years) with cancer treated at our Medical Oncology Clinic between 2009 and 2010. Cardiac events from capecitabine treatment were classified into 4 groups: cardiac symptoms, physical signs, electrocardiography (ECG) findings, and severe adverse cardiac effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients received either single-agent capecitabine or a combination chemotherapy including capecitabine. After initiation of capecitabine, 18 patients (34.6%) had new onset cardiovascular symptoms, 6 (11.5%) had new onset physical signs and 17 (32.6%) had new onset ECG findings. New onset ECG findings included prolonged corrected QT interval (n = 10, 19.2%) and prolonged PR interval (n = 3, 5.8%). Severe adverse capecitabine-induced cardiac side effects were observed in 5.8% of the patients, but none of the patients had myocardial infarction or died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiac events are not rare during capecitebine treatment and patients should be followed closely to avoid cardiac morbidity and mortality.
authors: Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Diseases, Medical Faculty, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey. dogankoca@hotmail.com
authors: Dogan
authors: D
authors: Koca
authors: Tarik
authors: T
authors: Salman
authors: Ilkay Tugba
authors: IT
authors: Unek
authors: Ilhan
authors: I
authors: Oztop
authors: Hulya
authors: H
authors: Ellidokuz
authors: Murat
authors: M
authors: Eren
authors: Ugur
authors: U
authors: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D000069287:Capecitabine; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069287:Capecitabine; D005472:Fluorouracil