The spectrum of 5-fluorouracil cardiotoxicity

Anticancer Drugs. 2009 Jan;20(1):79-80. doi: 10.1097/cad.0b013e3283165f27.

Abstract

Cardiotoxicity is a rare but serious complication of 5-fluorouracil therapy. Coronary vasospasm and, less frequently, acute myocarditis have been identified as underlying mechanisms. We report a case of severe toxicity in a relatively young and fit male patient being treated for metastatic colonic adenocarcinoma displaying characteristics that cannot be explained by either mechanism alone.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects*
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / chemically induced
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / chemically induced
  • Cardiovascular Agents / therapeutic use
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Coronary Vasospasm / chemically induced
  • Fluorouracil / adverse effects*
  • Heart Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Heart Diseases / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Leucovorin / administration & dosage
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocarditis / chemically induced
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / chemically induced

Substances

  • Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic
  • Cardiovascular Agents
  • Organoplatinum Compounds
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Leucovorin
  • Fluorouracil