[Cardiotoxicity of a selected group of drugs]

Drugs and other chemical substances can impair the heart in any of its functions--electrical activity, mechanical activity and metabolism, most frequently by a graded pharmacological action or a direct toxic effect, or immunological mechanisms (hypersensitive reaction). The drugs with the potentially greatest cardiotoxic effect on the function of the heart include beta 1-sympathomimetics, beta 1-blockers, cardiac glycosides, antidysrhythmics, inhalational general anaesthetics, methylxanthine, and anthracycline cytostatics. Other drugs, which are mainly of toxicological importance and which can act cardiotoxically, are halogenated hydrocarbons, ethanol, nicotine and heavy metals. A knowledge of the cardiotoxic action of the above-mentioned groups of drugs is essential for their safe use in clinical practice.