Left ventricular assist device as bridge to recovery for anthracycline-induced terminal heart failure.

Abstract

Anthracycline treatments are hampered by dose-related cardiotoxicity, frequently leading to heart failure (HF) with a very poor prognosis. The authors report a case of a 19-year-old man developing HF after anthracycline treatment for Ewing sarcoma. Despite medical treatment, his condition deteriorated to terminal HF, leading to implantation of a mechanical left ventricular assist device (LVAD). His heart function recovered, allowing explantation of the device 14 months after implantation. Heart transplantation is often contraindicated in the first years after treatment for cancers, and LVAD as "bridge to recovery" may be warranted in similar patients.

• Authors: Jon M Appel, Kåre Sander, Peter B Hansen, Jacob E Møller, Anders Krarup-Hansen, Finn Gustafsson
• Journal: Congestive heart failure (Greenwich, Conn.) (Congest Heart Fail) 2012 Sep-Oct Vol. 18 Issue 5 Pg. 291-4 ISSN: 1751-7133 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22521037 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Chemical References

• Anthracyclines
• Antineoplastic Agents
• Cardiotoxins

Topics

• Anthracyclines (adverse effects)
• Antineoplastic Agents (adverse effects)
• Cardiotoxins (adverse effects)
• Heart Failure (chemically induced, pathology, therapy)
• Heart Transplantation
• Heart Ventricles (innervation, pathology)
• Heart-Assist Devices
• Humans
• Male
• Young Adult