Azacitidine-Induced Pericarditis: A Case Series

To describe three cases of pericarditis probably related to azacitidine administration in a span of 3 years at our center.

Case series.

Comprehensive cancer center within a large, academic medical center.

Three patients with high-grade myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia who received azacitidine.

None.

None.

Patient 1 presented with pericarditis after cycle 2 of azacitidine, patient 3 presented 3 weeks after completing cycle 5, and patient 2 presented during cycle 1. All patients were treated symptomatically and responded to corticosteroids. None of the patients were re-challenged with hypomethylating agents. Use of the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale indicated a probable adverse drug reaction (score of 6) for patients 1 and 3 and a possible adverse drug reaction (score of 3) for patient 2.

With the exclusion of other common causes of pericarditis, we believe it is likely that azacitidine was responsible for the findings in our patients. Providers caring for patients receiving hypomethylating agents should consider this potential adverse drug reaction in the setting of unexplained chest pain or other clinical signs consistent with cardiotoxicity.