Cardiac conduction abnormalities in patients with breast cancer undergoing high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation

Bone Marrow Transplant. 2000 Jan;25(2):185-9. doi: 10.1038/sj.bmt.1702106.

Abstract

Cardiac toxicities in 39 consecutive patients with breast cancer receiving high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with stem cell transplantation were reviewed. All 39 patients received various anthracycline-containing regimens in adjuvant settings and/or for metastatic disease before HDC. As a cytoreductive regimen, all received cyclophosphamide 2000 mg/m2 and thiotepa 200 mg/m2 for 3 consecutive days. No immediate fatal toxicities were observed, but one patient developed chronic congestive heart failure and two had transient left ventricular dysfunction. Pericardial effusion was observed in another three patients. ST-T abnormalities during HDC were observed in two patients and arrhythmias were observed in nine, four of which occurred during stem cell infusion (SCI). There were three atrial arrhythmias, two ventricular arrhythmias, and four atrioventricular (AV)-block episodes. Two patients developed advanced and complete AV-block with an asystolic pause. Notably, three patients experienced AV-block with uncontrolled vomiting. No relationship was observed between the cumulative dose of anthracycline and cardiac toxicities during HDC. These results suggest that abnormalities in the conduction system during HDC may be more frequent than previously reported. Vagal reflex secondary to emesis may play an important role in the development of AV-block. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000) 25, 185-189.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / pharmacology
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / chemically induced
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / etiology
  • Breast Neoplasms / complications
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Combined Modality Therapy / adverse effects
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
  • Cyclophosphamide / adverse effects
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / adverse effects
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Heart Block / chemically induced
  • Heart Block / etiology
  • Heart Conduction System / drug effects
  • Heart Conduction System / physiopathology*
  • Heart Diseases / chemically induced
  • Heart Diseases / etiology*
  • Heart Diseases / physiopathology
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Nausea / chemically induced
  • Nausea / etiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Thiotepa / administration & dosage
  • Thiotepa / adverse effects
  • Vomiting / chemically induced
  • Vomiting / etiology

Substances

  • Doxorubicin
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Thiotepa