Atrial fibrillation induced by gemcitabine treatment in a 65-year-old man

Gemcitabine, a pyrimidine analogue, is a cell cycle-specific antineoplastic agent that is structurally related to cytarabine. Major side effects of the treatment with gemcitabine are hepatic dysfunction, myelosuppression, renal impairment and pulmonary toxicity. Development of atrial fibrillation (AF) during gemcitabine treatment is very rare and was reported in only 2 case reports in the literature.

We report the case of a 65-year-old man who developed AF under gemcitabine therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (stage IIIB). In this patient, AF was intrinsically associated with chemotherapy administration which triggered arrhythmia.

Although AF caused by gemcitabine appears to be rare, patients at risk of developing atrial fibrillation should be closely monitored for this complication.