Myocardial injury produced by antineoplastic drugs
Buja, L.M.; Ferrans, V.J.
Recent Advances in Studies on Cardiac Structure and Metabolism 6: 487-497
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0363-5872 PMID: 1197900 Document Number: 88569
Histologic and ultrastructural studies were performed on the heart of 16 patients with fatal leukemias or solid tumors. Multifocal myocardial degenerative lesions, characterized by alterations in contractile elements, mitochondria, and nuclei, were found in 12 patients treated with high total doses of anthracyclines, but not in 3 patients who did receive such therapy. One patient who received a high dose of cyclophosphamide as well as a high total dose of daunorubicin exhibited extensive hemorrhagic myocardial necrosis and multifocal degenerative lesions. This study documents the cardiotoxic effects of anthracyclines and cyclophosphamide.