Cardiotoxic effects of high doses of cyclophosphamide in albino rats

A histopathological study of cyclophosphamide-induced cardiotoxicity has been conducted in 43 Swiss albino rats. Multiple interstitial myocardial haemorrhage, multifocal myofibre necrosis, inflammatory reaction, vascular changes, pericarditis and valvulitis, mainly in the heart ventricles, have been observed. Previous results have suggested that cyclophosphamide directly damages the vascular endothelium, followed by the extravasation of blood containing high levels of the drug, and resulting into a toxic damage of the muscle cells. Our results are in favor of this hypothesis.