Capecitabine-induced coronary vasospasm--a case report

Capecitabine May Accelerate Atherosclerosis and Causes Acute Myocardial Infarction in the Left Main Trunk

We report a case of a 59-year-old man who developed acute myocardial infarction which is supposed to be associated with capecitabine administration. At the age of 57 years, the patient underwent a laparoscopic colectomy for sigmoid colon cancer and subsequently received adjuvant chemotherapy with capecitabine. About one year later, he developed an acute myocardial infarction and was treated with percutaneous coronary intervention. He did not demonstrate any coronary risk factors except dyslipidemia, which itself was unlikely to be involved in prominent atherogenesis. Considering the reports so far, we presumed that capecitabine contributed to the progression of atherosclerosis in the present case.

A case of ventricular fibrillation as a consequence of capecitabine-induced secondary QT prolongation: A case report

Capecitabine is an oral fluoropyrimidine which can prolong QT interval. However, there have been no reports that capecitabine induced ventricular fibrillation (VF) due to secondary QT prolongation in patients with no structural heart disease. A 39-year-old woman developed VF during the chemotherapy of capecitabine for colon cancer. At the administration, corrected QT interval (QTc) was prolonged to 559 ms despite no evidence of organic heart disease. Discontinuation of capecitabline normalized the QTc (414 ms). During the follow-up of eight years, neither the QTc prolongation nor the recurrent VF has been detected. We report the rare case of capecitabine-related VF without any organic heart disease. <Learning objective: Capecitabine is an oral fluoropyrimidine carbamate commonly used to treat colorectal and breast cancer. Capecitabine has been reported to be associated with VF due to vasospasm. However, capecitabine is also associated with QT elongation. This is the first report to describe VF due to capecitabine-related secondary long QT syndrome in a patient with no cardiac heart disease. Physicians must carefully follow up patients during capecitabine chemotherapy with serial electrocardiograms.>.

Capecitabine-induced ventricular fibrillation arrest: Possible Kounis syndrome

We report the case of capecitabine-induced ventricular fibrillation arrest, possibly secondary to type I Kounis syndrome. A 47-year-old man with a history of T3N1 moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the colon, status-post sigmoid resection, was started on adjuvant capecitabine approximately five months prior to presentation of cardiac arrest secondary to ventricular fibrillation. An electrocardiogram (EKG) revealed ST segment elevation on the lateral leads and the patient was taken emergently to the cardiac catheterization laboratory. The catheterization revealed no angiographically significant stenosis and coronary artery disease was ruled out. After ruling out other causes of cardiac arrest, the working diagnosis was capecitabine-induced ventricular fibrillation arrest. As such, an inflammatory work up was sent to evaluate for the possibility of a capecitabine hypersensitivity, or Kounis syndrome, and is the first documented report in the literature to do so when evaluating Kounis syndrome. Immunoglobulin E (IgE), tryptase, and C-reactive protein were normal but histamine, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 were elevated. Histamine elevation supports the suspicion that our patient had type I Kounis syndrome. Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale indicates a probable adverse effect due to capecitabine with seven points. A case of capecitabine-induced ventricular fibrillation arrest is reported, with a potential for type 1 Kounis syndrome as an underlying pathology supported by immunologic work up.

Acute coronary artery thrombosis and vasospasm following capecitabine in conjunction with oxaliplatin treatment for cancer

Oral capecitabine is a prodrug of 5-fluorouracil that has been used into the management of multiple cancers because of the convenience of administration and efficacy at least comparable with 5-fluorouracil. While cardiac complications associated with the use of 5-fluorouracil are well-documented, capecitabine-induced acute coronary syndrome has rarely been reported and often attributed to coronary vasospasm. We report a patient presented with acute coronary syndrome secondary to thrombotic coronary occlusion following treatment with oral capecitabine and intravenous oxaliplatin after resection of non-metastatic, node positive colon carcinoma. Capecitabine may induce acute coronary thrombotic occlusion in addition to coronary vasospasm.

Acute presentation of vasospastic angina induced by oral capecitabine: a case report

INTRODUCTION

Oral capecitabine is an oral prodrug of 5-fluorouracil that has been integrated into the management of multiple cancer types because of the convenience of administration and its efficacy compared with 5-fluorouracil. Capecitabine mimics the pharmacokinetics of intravenous 5-fluorouracil. While cardiac events associated with the use of 5-fluorouracil are a well-known side effect, capecitabine-induced cardiotoxicity has only been rarely reported.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a case of a 46-year-old woman of Greek ethnicity who presented to our institution with an operated gastric sarcoma who experienced capecitabine-induced vasospastic angina. Primarily a clinical diagnosis of a possible acute coronary syndrome was proposed and the patient was admitted to the hospital for further investigation which was proved between normal limits. After a witnessed episode of angina, her prior history of capecitabine intake and an undertaken further imaging investigation we associated anginal symptoms and signs with vasospastic angina induced by capecitabine 36 hours prior to hospital admission.

CONCLUSION

Cardiologists should be aware of the potential cardiac hazards of capecitabine, especially in patients with cardiovascular risk factors. Due to the increasing usage of capecitabine during the last years, patients should be warned for the possibility of chest pain, particularly during the first few days of capecitabine treatment. Specifically, patients developing acute coronary syndrome should not be retreated with capecitabine. On the other hand, due to its promising antitumoral efficacy, its use should not be discouraged.

Capecitabine-induced chest pain relieved by diltiazem

Five patients with primary colorectal adenocarcinoma or anal squamous cell carcinoma were started on a 2-weeks-on, 1-week-off capecitabine dosing regimen in addition to other chemotherapeutic agents and/or radiation. Within the first few doses, patients experienced chest pain and/or dyspnea at rest or with exertion. Acute electrocardiographic findings suggestive of ischemia were found in some cases at initial presentation, and 1 patient had troponin elevation consistent with an acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Subsequent ischemia evaluations were not suggestive of clinically significant coronary artery disease. All patients experienced immediate and sustained relief from chest pain after discontinuation of capecitabine and were able to successfully tolerate retreatment using a novel management strategy based on secondary prophylaxis with diltiazem. In conclusion, guidelines for the evaluation of and therapy for capecitabine-induced chest pain are proposed.

Kounis syndrome is likely culprit of coronary vasospasm induced by capecitabine

Capecitabine administration has been associated with various allergic reactions including acneiform skin rash, linchenoid photosensitive eruption, exudative non healing scalp, skin reactions, pyogenic granuloma, subacute cutaneous systemic lupus erythematosus, exudative hyponychia dermatitis, and hand–foot syndrome. A patient who developed ventricular fibrillation following capecitabine-induced coronary vasospasm and necessitating cardioverter-defibrillator implantation was published recently in J Oncol Pharm Practice. The authors attributed this reaction to capecitabine cardiotoxicity, but capecitabine hypersensitivity is closely associated with Kounis syndrome. Tests and measures which will help to confirm, prevent and treat cardiac hypersensitivity to antineoplastic agents are recommended.

Acute chest pain in a patient treated with capecitabine

A 61-year-old male with a history of metastatic colorectal cancer was referred to our hospital for primary coronary intervention because of acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography, however, revealed no significant stenoses. When asked, the patient revealed that capecitabine (Xeloda(R)) was started by his oncologist one day before admission. It is known that this oral 5-FU analogue drug, used in metastatic colorectal cancer, can cause coronary artery spasms. The main treatment of capecitabine-induced vasospasm is discontinuation of the drug. Indeed, after cessation of the drug the patient remained free of symptoms and the ECG abnormalities normalised. (Neth Heart J 2009;17:288-91.).

Ventricular fibrillation as a likely consequence of capecitabine-induced coronary vasospasm

Capecitabine is a member of the fluoropyrimidine family of chemotherapeutic agents that selectively delivers 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to tumors. It is increasingly used as part of combined modality treatment for gastrointestinal malignancies. Cardiotoxicity has been documented to occur with 5-FU, but due to an expansion in capecitabine use, reports exist of its propensity to coronary vasospasm. We report the case of a 28-year-old man, with no preceding angina, presenting with a reversible episode of ventricular fibrillation (VF) at rest in his fifth course of capecitabine chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer. Emergency resuscitation successfully restored spontaneous circulation, with initial ST segment elevation in the inferolateral leads on electrocardiogram prompting emergency coronary angiography. This demonstrated normal coronary arteries. ST segments normalized post-angiography and the patient rapidly recovered with no myocardial damage sustained. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator was placed for secondary prevention of sudden death, and capecitabine was implicated as the cause of coronary vasospasm which resulted in his presentation of VF. To our knowledge, this is the first episode of VF as a consequence of suspected capecitabine-induced coronary vasospasm occurring at rest. Our case highlights the potential for severe cardiotoxic consequences of capecitabine including sudden death from VF, and given the multi-disciplinary approach to managing oncology patients, health professionals should be aware of this.

Capecitabine-induced cardiotoxicity: when to suspect? How to manage? A case report

We present a case of capecitabine-induced cardiac toxicity manifested by chest pain, ST-segment elevation and ventricular tachycardia. Symptoms and ECG alterations were completely reversible after withdrawal of the drug. Coronary angiography demonstrated the absence of epicardial coronary spasm. We suggest cardiac monitoring with ECG Holter and effort ECG during the first days of drug administration. Prompt evaluation of chest pain in this setting is of paramount importance.

Capecitabine induced acute coronary syndrome

Capecitabine is an oral chemotherapeutic agent recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence as first line treatment for metastatic bowel cancer and second line for breast cancer. With the increasing prevalence and diagnosis of these common malignancies, it is essential that physicians are made aware of the rare, but potentially fatal, cardiac effects of capecitabine. This case report demonstrates a typical presentation of suspected acute coronary syndrome with associated ECG changes in a patient who had started capecitabine 2 days before admission. His troponin was mildly elevated and his ECGs resolved on discontinuation of the drug, but a positive exercise tolerance test precipitated coronary angiography; which was essentially normal, as was his echocardiogram and computed tomography scan. Previous literature has highlighted potential cardiac complications of a similar chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil, which is the active metabolite present in capecitabine. The possible presentations, complications and clinical management are discussed in this case report.

Capecitabine-induced headache responding to diltiazem

BACKGROUND

Headaches have been reported as a potential side effect of capecitabine therapy. However, severe limiting headaches are rarely experienced in this setting and no known therapy has been described for such a serious side effect.

RESULTS

We report the case of a patient treated with capecitabine and radiation for rectal adenocarcinoma. The patient developed grade 3 capecitabine-induced headache. A cause-effect relationship to capecitabine was suggested due to resolution of headache with capecitabine withdrawal and reappearance with capecitabine rechallenge. The patient's headache resolved with diltiazem therapy and she was able to complete capecitabine and radiation therapy without further adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

Capecitabine and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) are known vasospasm inducers. We hypothesize that capecitabine-induced headache is vascular in nature. This likely explains the noted response to a calcium channel blocker (CCB), namely diltiazem. CCBs should be considered in the treatment of 5-FU or capecitabine-induced headaches.

A case of capecitabine-induced coronary microspasm in a patient with rectal cancer

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is the most frequently used chemotherapy agent concomitant with radiotherapy in the management of patients with rectal cancer. Capecitabine is an oral fluoropyrimidine that mimics the pharmaconkinetics of infusional 5-FU. This new drug is replacing 5-FU as a part of the combined-modality treatment of a number of gastrointestinal cancers. While cardiac events associated with the use of 5-FU are a well known side effect, capecitabine-induced cardiotoxicity has been only rarely reported. Here, we reviewed the case of a patient with rectal cancer who had a capecitabine-induced coronary vasospasm. The most prominent mutation of the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene was also analyzed.

Acute coronary syndrome induced by oral capecitabine

A 41-year-old woman who was undergoing oral chemotherapy with capecitabine for metastatic breast cancer presented with recurrent episodes of chest pain associated with electrocardiographic signs of diffuse ST segment elevation. After spontaneous pain relief, the electrocardiogram showed ischemic evolution in the anterior precordial leads. Coronary and ventricular angiography, performed 24 h later, showed normal coronary arteries and normal left ventricular function. After therapy with capecitabine was discontinued, the patient did not experience further episodes of chest pain. After a nine-month follow-up, she remains alive, with a good performance status and without clinical evidence of persistent ischemia.

Cardiotoxicity of cancer therapy

Because cancer is a leading cause of mortality in the United States, the number of therapeutic modalities available for the treatment of neoplastic processes has increased. This has resulted in a large number of patients being exposed to a wide variety of cancer therapy. Historically, it has been well recognized that antineoplastic agents may have adverse effects on multiple organs and normal tissues. The most commonly associated toxicities occur in tissues composed of rapidly dividing cells and may spontaneously reverse with minimal long-term toxicity. However, the myocardium consists of cells that have limited regenerative capability, which may render the heart susceptible to permanent or transient adverse effects from chemotherapeutic agents. Such toxicity encompasses a heterogeneous group of disorders, ranging from relatively benign arrhythmias to potentially lethal conditions such as myocardial ischemia/infarction and cardiomyopathy. In some instances, the pathogenesis of these toxic effects has been elucidated, whereas in others the precise etiology remains unknown. We review herein the various syndromes of cardiac toxicity that are reported to be associated with antineoplastic agents and discuss their putative mechanisms and treatment.