Cardiotoxicity in a Patient with Multiple Relapses of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy is one of the most important adverse effects in cancer treatment. Many chemotherapeutic agents are known to be cardiotoxic, including anthracyclines, monoclonal antibodies, alkylating agents, and protein kinase inhibitors.

It is intended to indicate a mechanism of multiple cardiac injury after exposure to various chemotherapeutic agents with cardiotoxic potential. This article illustrates the case of a 70-year-old male patient diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with multiple relapses and malignant transformation to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who received multiple cycles of chemotherapy with periods of complete remission, who presented to the hospital emergency with decompensated reduced ejection fraction heart failure (EF:40%).

During the hospitalization the patient suffered refractory electrolyte imbalances and hospital-acquired infections. Although the patient received hypertonic saline solution, multiple potassium challenges, and extended spectrum antibiotics, the patient passed away.

Exposure to different chemotherapeutic agents with cardiotoxic potential included in non-Hodgkin lymphoma treatment schemes can trigger myocardial injury by different mechanisms. Cardiooncology is a field that is emerging and working on new strategies for the diagnosis, prevention, and management of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity.