Muerte súbita debida a cardiotoxicidad aguda inducida por antraciclinas

Abstract

Anthracyclines, such as doxorubicin, and monoclonal antibodies, such as trastuzumab, are compounds of wide clinical use as cytotoxic chemotherapy as they significantly reduce cancer-related mortality. However, the toxicity is a major adverse effect of these agents, which may occur at any time in their administration or afterwards, especially when used in combination. Cardiovascular toxicity by doxorubicin is dose-dependent and irreversible, while that caused by trastuzumab is not. Common electrocardiographic changes have been found during the administration of chemotherapy, independent of the cumulative dose, but these acute changes have been given little importance, although they may occur up to 40% of patients. Despite documented evidence of arrhythmias in both human and animal models, sudden cardiac death during or immediately after the infusion of chemotherapy is not well described. This paper describes a young adult with no history of cardiovascular disease, with non-Hodgkińs lymphoma and a heart image very suggestive of left ventricle lymphomatous infiltration. The patient developed heart rhythm disturbances that lead to sudden death after slow intravenous infusion of doxorubicin.