What happens in cardiotoxicity?

Cardiotoxicity is a condition when there is damage to the heart muscle. As a result of cardiotoxicity, your heart may not be able to pump blood throughout your body as well. This may be due to chemotherapy drugs, or other medications you may be taking to control your disease.

What is chemotherapy induced cardiotoxicity?

Chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity is a serious complication that limits the clinical use of chemotherapeutic agents, particularly the anthracyclines, since it could eventually culminate in the development of life-threatening cardiomyopathy.

What is the most common chemotherapy drug to cause significant cardiotoxicity?

The most common chemotherapy drugs related to cardio-toxicity include: 5-fluorouracil (Adrucil) Paclitaxel (Taxol) Anthracyclines (a class of drugs)

What are the early signs of cardiotoxicity?

Symptoms of Cardiotoxicity

  • Shortness of breath.
  • Chest Pain.
  • Heart palpitations.
  • Fluid retention in the legs.
  • Distention of the stomach.
  • Dizziness.

Is Chemo cardiotoxicity reversible?

With the exception of anthracyclines, cardiotoxicity from most targeting agents is reversible. Concomitant use of cardiotoxic drugs should be avoided, and early detection of asymptomatic cardiac dysfunction is important.

What are the symptoms of cardiotoxicity?

What is cisplatin nephrotoxicity?

Cisplatin causes damage to nuclear and mitochondrial DNA and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which lead to activation of both mitochondrial and non-mitochondrial pathways of apoptosis and necrosis. Mitochondrial energetics are also disrupted by cisplatin and may contribute to nephrotoxicity.

How is cisplatin nephrotoxicity treated?

Active hydration with saline and simultaneous administration of mannitol before, during and after cisplatin treatment, significantly reduce cisplatin nephrotoxicity and this strategy has been accepted as the standard of care for reducing the associated side effects53).

How is cardiotoxicity detected?

Cardiac magnetic resonance. CMR is the gold standard for detecting cardiotoxicity due to its accuracy, reproducibility, and ability to detect subtle changes in cardiac function that may be predictive of cardiotoxicity.

How is cardiotoxicity treated?

The most common medications used for cardiotoxicity treatment include: Beta-blockers, which slow down a patient’s heart rate, lower a patient’s blood pressure and strengthen the heart muscle can reduce palpitations and arrhythmias, hypertension and heart failure.