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[Cardiac side effects of 5-fluorouracil]
Deutsche Medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)
|April 20, 1990
Summary
Chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil can cause cardiac side effects, including anginal symptoms and ECG changes, in patients with colorectal carcinoma. These cardiotoxic effects are reversible after discontinuing the drug.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Colorectal carcinoma treatment often involves chemotherapy.
- 5-fluorouracil is a common chemotherapeutic agent used for colorectal cancer.
Observation:
- Four patients with colorectal carcinoma experienced anginal symptoms and electrocardiogram (ECG) changes during 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy.
- No pre-existing cardiac abnormalities were noted in these patients.
Findings:
- ECG changes included ST depressions, negative T waves, ventricular extrasystoles, and sinus tachycardia with intermittent atrial fibrillation.
- Symptoms appeared between the second and fourth day of treatment.
- Two patients showed improvement with glyceryl trinitrate; all patients' ECGs normalized after 5-fluorouracil cessation.
Implications:
- 5-fluorouracil can induce reversible cardiotoxicity in cancer patients.
- Monitoring for cardiac adverse events during 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy is crucial.
- The exact mechanisms of 5-fluorouracil-induced cardiotoxicity require further investigation.