[Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity: report of fatal cases].

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Anthracyclines are effective drugs in pediatrics cancer treatment. However, anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (AIC) is a serious adverse drug reaction that affects the survival in patients treated for childhood cancer.

CLINICAL CASES:

Case 1: Nine-year-old girl with stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma with 12 epirubicin doses and a cumulative dose of 576 mg/m2. After last chemotherapy dose, the patient was admitted with systemic inflammatory response, asthenia and adinamia. Echocardiography: LVEF of 22%, SF 11% and moderate mitral regurgitation. Patient died 2 days after diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy secondary to anthracyclines. Case 2: Fifteen-year-old girl with stage IV Burkitt lymphoma with two epirubicin doses and a cumulative dose of 90 mg/m2. After the last cycle, the patient developed several infectious foci. Echocardiography: LVEF of 49%, SF 20% and dilated left ventricle with septal flattening. Patient died 13 days after diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy by anthracyclines.

CONCLUSION:

AIC is a problem in pediatric patients receiving anthracyclines, monitoring is essential to detect the onset of cardiac damage to provide an intervention to prevent heart failure progress.

• Authors: Jessica Liliana Vargas-Neri, Osvaldo Daniel Castelán-Martínez, María de Jesús Estrada-Loza, Yadira Betanzos-Cabrera, Rodolfo Rivas-Ruiz
• Journal: Revista medica del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc) 2016 May-Jun Vol. 54 Issue 3 Pg. 404-8 ISSN: 2448-5667 [Electronic] Mexico
• Vernacular Title: Cardiotoxicidad inducida por antraciclinas. Reporte de casos fatales.
• PMID: 27100990 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
• Epirubicin

Topics

• Adolescent
• Antibiotics, Antineoplastic (adverse effects)
• Cardiomyopathy, Dilated (chemically induced, diagnosis)
• Cardiotoxicity
• Child
• Epirubicin (adverse effects)
• Fatal Outcome
• Female
• Humans