Cisplatin-induced cardiotoxicity with midrange ejection fraction: A case report and review of the literature

Cisplatin monotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity is rare, and the prevalence remains unknown. It's extremely important to stop cisplatin when cardiotoxicity is considered.

A 53-year-old woman developed cervical cancer. She was administered cisplatin (37 mg/m/wk) for 3 weeks, but the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) declined from 70% to 48%.

Electrocardiogram showed first-degree atrioventricular block and ST-segment depression by 0.05 mv on leads II, III, and V3-5. Neither cardiac markers nor N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro BNP) was elevated. After a careful physical examination and laboratory investigation, we confirmed that cervical cancer did not progress and no other cause was evident. So we figured cardiotoxicity might be induced by cisplatin.

Cisplatin was stopped and cardioprotective therapies were given to the patient.

After discontinuing cisplatin and adding cardioprotective therapies, the LVEF increased to 50% and 53%, respectively (M-mode echocardiography) after 17 and 90 days, which further confirmed our diagnosis.

According to this case and literature review, cisplatin-induced cardiotoxicity should be considered for the patient. When necessary, we should discontinue the suspected drug to confirm diagnosis. Cardioprotective therapies would minimize the drug-induced cardiovascular adverse events and improve patients' outcome.