Focal Atrial Tachycardia During Central Gemcitabine Administration

Gemcitabine is not usually regarded as a cardiotoxic or significantly arrhythmogenic chemotherapeutic agent.

A 66-year-old woman developed narrow complex tachycardia immediately after gemcitabine administration via peripherally inserted central cannula. Electrophysiological study diagnosed a focal atrial tachycardia arising from the right atrium adjacent to the tip of the central cannula line abutting the atrial wall. The arrhythmia was successfully ablated with no symptom recurrence.

This case suggests that gemcitabine can be arrhythmogenic in combination with improper central line sites. The patient had received gemcitabine previously via a different line without sequalae.

Gemcitabine has the capability to be directly arrhythmogenic. Centrally placed lines can abut the endocardium or vascular endothelial surface, which may counteract the intention to dilute therapeutic agents in large volumes of blood. A clear temporal relationship between symptom and medication should prompt consideration of the therapeutic as the causative agent.