Sudden death in a dog after doxorubicin chemotherapy

Vet Pathol. 2011 Sep;48(5):1035-7. doi: 10.1177/0300985810377185. Epub 2010 Aug 3.

Abstract

A case is reported of fatal cardiomyopathy in an 8-year-old female German Shepherd after standard chemotherapy with doxorubicin for splenic hemangiosarcoma. The main gross lesion was a moderate bilateral cardiac ventricular dilation with diffusely pale myocardium. Histological analysis revealed severe multifocal vacuolar degeneration of cardiomyocytes, myocytolysis, myofibril loss, myocardial fibrosis, and edema. Myocardial fiber vacuolization and myocytolysis were highly suggestive of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
  • Cyclophosphamide / adverse effects
  • Death, Sudden, Cardiac / etiology
  • Death, Sudden, Cardiac / pathology
  • Death, Sudden, Cardiac / veterinary*
  • Dog Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Dog Diseases / pathology
  • Dogs
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / adverse effects*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Histocytochemistry / veterinary

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Doxorubicin
  • Cyclophosphamide