Gemcitabine induced cardiomyopathy: a case of multiple hit cardiotoxicity

Abstract

Gemcitabine is a commonly used antineoplastic agent used to treat a variety of cancers with rarely reported cardiac side effects. We describe a case of a 67-year-old woman with follicular lymphoma who experienced a rarely reported side effect of gemcitabine: cardiomyopathy. This case highlights a multiple hit mechanism of myocyte damage that may occur following the use of multiple cardio-toxic agents despite their administration in doses not associated with cardiotoxicity.