[Cardiotoxicity of cancer therapy]

Vnitr Lek. 2011 May;57(5):472-84.
[Article in Czech]

Abstract

Due to advances in oncological care, the number of patients exposed to and surviving after anticancer chemotherapy is steadily increasing. Anticancer agents, however, are often associated with side-effects including cardiotoxicity which has been identified as one of the most serious and potentially life threatening complications. Cardiotoxicity manifestations range from asymptomatic alterations of heart and vasculature function to arterial hypertension, myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias (including QT-prolongation) and overt heart failure. Post-chemotherapy cardiovascular impairment has been associated with increased morbidity and may also contribute to increased mortality in these patients, both early and late after chemotherapy. This review article describes pathophysiology, clinical manifestation, diagnostic algorithms, monitoring and therapy of cardiotoxicity caused by anticancer agents. We also outline and discuss a variety of problems associated with patient management from the viewpoint of clinical cardiology according to latest published findings.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / chemically induced
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / therapy
  • Heart / drug effects*
  • Heart Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Heart Diseases / therapy
  • Heart Failure / chemically induced
  • Heart Failure / therapy
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / chemically induced
  • Hypertension / therapy
  • Myocardial Ischemia / chemically induced
  • Myocardial Ischemia / therapy

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents