Discussion
Acute heart failure due to 5-FU combined with platins with no epicardial
coronary artery involvement may compromise patients’ outcomes even in
the absence of drug misadministration. Both patients recovered early and
presented the same pattern of late gadolinium enhancement on cMR
mimicking myocarditis sequela. The adverse drug reaction was
dose-independent, most likely due to 5FU. The most likely mechanism is
direct cardiomyocyte toxicity given the pathological findings in one of
the cases with myocyte necrosis and endothelial lesions or significant
cell infiltrates. Cardio-toxicity so far were due to overdoses with high
fatality rates. Our brief report highlights the susceptibility of some
individuals to present this rare but potentially fatal complication. The
complication was unpredictable, one after a single dose in a teenager
with no past cardiovascular disease, the other after a re-challenge in
an elderly man.
Uridine triacetate may be an alternative for the treatment of 5-FU
poisoning if given early (<96 hours).2,4 In
our two cases this treatment option was discussed but the drug was not
readily available precluding early administration, given the absence of
residual measurable 5FU 24 hours after ACU admission.
There is need for increased awareness among pediatricians, oncologists,
hematologists, cardiologists, internists, and intensivists since
5FU-related cardiogenic shock may be fulminant with an interest for
uridine triacetate supply and mechanical circulatory support as a bridge
to full recovery.5
Figure legend. Panel A: Myocardial damage in a right ventricle
endomyocardial biopsy from a 15 year-old patient treated with
5-fluorouracil. Focus of myocyte necrosis (arrows) surrounded by mild
mononuclear cell infiltration (arrowheads); (H&E stain; Bar = 20 µm).
Panel B: Subepicardial late gadolinium enhacement (arrow) in the
inferolateral wall in a 15 years old patient after recovery of
5FU-related cardiogenic shock
Acknowledgements
We thank Dr Dr Christine Le Beller, unité de pharmacovigilence, hôpital
européen Georges Pompidou for her help in the management of these two
cases. We are indebted towards Dr Gilles Soulat, hôpital européen
Georges Pompidou, for the cMR images.
Authors have no disclosures.
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