Cardiotoxicity during chemotherapy treatment with 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin

J Chemother. 1990 Aug;2(4):264-7. doi: 10.1080/1120009x.1990.11739029.

Abstract

Cardiotoxicity of 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin chemotherapy for esophageal, head and neck and gastric carcinoma was studied. Before treatment all patients had a cardiac evaluation and during treatment serial electrocardiographic (ECG) recordings were performed. In the pre-treatment evaluation signs of cardiovascular disease were found in 31(38.75%) patients. During treatment cardiotoxicity was observed in 12(15%) patients. The incidence of cardiotoxicity was not higher in patients with signs of cardiovascular disease than in those without in the pre-treatment evaluation. The most common signs of cardiotoxicity were chest pain, ST-T wave changes and arrhythmia. This study suggests that patients on 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin treatment should be under close supervision and that the treatment should be discontinued if chest pain and/or arrhythmias are observed.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / complications
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / drug therapy*
  • Chest Pain / complications
  • Cisplatin / therapeutic use
  • Cisplatin / toxicity*
  • Electrocardiography
  • Esophageal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Fluorouracil / therapeutic use
  • Fluorouracil / toxicity*
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Heart / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Stomach Neoplasms / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Cisplatin
  • Fluorouracil