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Cardiac arrhythmia in a CML patient treated with interferons
Texas Medicine
|April 1, 1989
Summary
Recombinant interferons (rIFNs) can cause cardiac side effects like palpitations and heart block. A patient experienced these symptoms, which resolved upon stopping therapy and reappeared with specific rIFN reintroduction.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Interferons (IFNs) are used to treat various cancers, including chronic myelogenous leukemia.
- Recombinant interferons (rIFNs) are synthetic versions of naturally occurring IFNs.
- Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia is a specific type of leukemia.
Observation:
- A 33-year-old woman on alternating recombinant interferon alpha-2a and gamma developed palpitations.
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) and Holter monitoring revealed first-degree atrioventricular (A-V) block and junctional tachycardia.
- Symptoms resolved after discontinuing rIFN therapy.
Findings:
- Rechallenge with recombinant interferon alpha-2b (rIFN alpha-2b) alone led to recurrent palpitations and A-V block.
- A dose-response relationship was observed between rIFN alpha-2b dosage and the occurrence of palpitations.
- This suggests a potential cardiac toxicity associated with rIFN alpha-2b.
Implications:
- Clinicians should be aware of potential cardiac side effects of rIFNs.
- Further investigation into the cardiotoxicity of rIFNs is warranted due to their increasing clinical use.
- Monitoring for cardiac events in patients receiving rIFN therapy is recommended.