Acute myocardial infarction induced by cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy for malignant melanoma: a case report

A 61-year-old woman with stage IV malignant melanoma suffered acute myocardial infarction during the third course of chemotherapy with cisplatin, dacarbazine, nimustine hydrochloride and tamoxifen citrate, despite no serious problem occurring during the first and second courses of chemotherapy. Since this patient, excluding menopause, had no significant risk factor for coronary heart disease before the start of chemotherapy, the infarction was likely to be attributable to the chemotherapy regimen. Chemotherapy should be used cautiously in patients with coronary risk factors before treatment is begun.