THE SPECTRUM OF 5-FLUOROURACIL CARDIOTOXICITY

Objective: To report three cases of cardiotoxicity related to the admi nistration of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in patients with cancer. Clinical features: Three patients with gastrointestinal malignancies were being treated with combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy regimens. Two pat ients developed myocardial ischaemia and the other a ventricular arrhy thmia in association with 5-FU administration. Intervention and outcom e: All patients survived the cardiac event. No patient was rechallenge d with 5-FU. Radiotherapy was continued, achieving a good tumour respo nse. Conclusion: Cardiotoxicity is rarely reported with 5-FU. The card iac events can be life threatening. It is difficult to predict which p atients will be affected. Clinicians need to be aware of this potentia l toxicity and monitor patients appropriately.