[Development of cardiac tamponade and emergence of arrhythmia during chemotherapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma]

Yuta Baba1, Bungo Saito1, Shotaro Shimada1

  • 1Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine.

Insights

Chemotherapy for cardiac lymphoma can unexpectedly trigger arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation. Regular electrocardiogram monitoring is crucial during treatment for early detection and management of these cardiac complications.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Oncology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Cardiac involvement in lymphoma can lead to serious complications, including arrhythmias.
  • Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with cardiac involvement presents unique challenges.

Observation:

  • A 68-year-old male with cardiac tamponade and DLBCL developed new-onset arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, atrial flutter) during chemotherapy.
  • These arrhythmias emerged shortly after initiating treatment for lymphoma.

Findings:

  • Successful chemotherapy led to the disappearance of the cardiac tumor mass and restoration of normal sinus rhythm without antiarrhythmic intervention.
  • No recurrence of arrhythmias was noted post-treatment.

Implications:

  • Chemotherapy-induced arrhythmias in cardiac lymphoma may result from rapid cardiac remodeling after tumor regression.
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG) surveillance is essential during chemotherapy for cardiac lymphoma, even in patients without pre-existing arrhythmias.
  • This highlights the importance of proactive cardiac monitoring in oncology patients with heart involvement.

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