[Chronic cardiotoxicity of anthracycline derivatives and possible prevention by coenzyme Q10]

Adriamycin (ADR), one of the anthracycline derivatives, has the most strong cardiotoxicity. We studied the cardiotoxicity caused by ADR in New Zealand white rabbits and its protection by the medication of CoQ10. The findings of ECG and the myocardial tissue examined by the electron microscope showed the effectiveness of the injection of CoQ10 to prevent the cardiotoxicity caused by ADR. The concomitant injection of CoQ10 dissolved in saline was tried in patients with various kinds of neoplasm who were given more than 200 mg of ADR or DM. Only one patient showed the ST-T change. On the contrary, 3 of patients given more than 200 mg ADR or DM alone showed abnormal change of ECG.