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Complete atrioventricular block and torsade de pointes due to dose-dense epirubicin and cyclophosphamide therapy

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Abstract

The dose-dense epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (EC) therapy for breast cancer decreases the risk of cancer recurrence and death. However, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide also cause cardiotoxicity, and cardiomyopathy is the most well-known related adverse effect. A 58-year-old woman presented to our hospital with palpitations 2 weeks after her final dose-dense EC therapy for breast cancer. Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) showed transitory complete atrioventricular block (CAVB) and torsade de pointes. A 12-lead ECG showed QT prolongation in addition to CAVB. Patients receiving dose-dense EC therapy should be monitored more carefully with ECG due to their risk of fatal arrhythmias.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiology, National Hospital Organization Hamada Medical Center, 777-12 Asaichō, Hamada, Shimane, 697-8511, Japan

    Taiji Okada

  2. Department of Digestive and General Surgery, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Hamada, Shimane, Japan

    Miki Hyakudomi

  3. Division of Cardiology, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Hamada, Shimane, Japan

    Kazuto Yamaguchi, Nobuhide Watanabe, Akihiro Endo & Kazuaki Tanabe

  4. Clinical Laboratory Department, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Hamada, Shimane, Japan

    Hiroyuki Yoshitomi

Authors
  1. Taiji Okada
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  2. Miki Hyakudomi
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  3. Kazuto Yamaguchi
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  4. Nobuhide Watanabe
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  5. Akihiro Endo
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  6. Hiroyuki Yoshitomi
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  7. Kazuaki Tanabe
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Correspondence to Taiji Okada.

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Okada, T., Hyakudomi, M., Yamaguchi, K. et al. Complete atrioventricular block and torsade de pointes due to dose-dense epirubicin and cyclophosphamide therapy. Int Canc Conf J 9, 207–211 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13691-020-00427-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13691-020-00427-1

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