Skip to main content
Log in

Acute chest pain in a patient treated with capecitabine

  • Case report
  • Published:
Netherlands Heart Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

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®) 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.)

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Scheithauer W, McKendrick J, Begbie S, Borner M, Burns WI, Burns HA, et al. Oral capecitabine as an alternative to i.v. 5-fluorouracil-based adjuvant therapy for colon cancer: safety results of a randomized, phase III trial. Ann Oncol 2003;14:1735–43.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Kosmas C, Kallistratos MS, Kopterides P, Syrios J, Skopelitis H, Mylonakis N, et al. Cardiotoxicity of fluoropyrimidines in different schedules of administration: a prospective study. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2008;134;75–82.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Jensen SA, Sorensen JB. Risk factors and prevention of cardiotoxicity induced by 5-fluorouracil or capecitabine. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2006;58:487–93.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Goldsmith YB, Roistacher N, Baum MS. Capecitabine-induced coronary vasospasm. J Clin Oncol 2008;26:3802–4.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Papadopoulos CA, Wilson H. Capecitabine-associated coronary vasospasm: a case report. Emerg Med J 2008;25:307–9.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Scott PA, Ferchow L, Hobson A, Curzen NP. Coronary spasm induced by capecitabine mimicks ST elevation myocardial infarction. Emerg Med J 2008;25:699–700.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Arbea L, Coma-Canella I, Martinez-Monge R, Garcia-Foncillas J. A case of capecitabine-induced coronary microspasm in a patient with rectal cancer. World J Gastroenterol 2007;13:2135–7.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Van Halteren HK, Liem AH, Planting AS. Myocardial ischemia as a result of treatment with capecitabine. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2007;151:1469–73.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Wijesinghe N, Thompson PI, McAlister H. Acute coronary syndrome induced by capecitabine therapy. Heart Lung Circ 2006;15:337–9.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Sestito A, Sgueglia GA, Pozzo C, Cassano A, Barone C, Crea F, et al. Coronary artery spasm induced by capecitabine. J Cardiovasc Med 2006;7:136–8.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Rizvi AA, Schauer P, Owlia D, Kallal JE. Capecitabine-induced coronary vasospasm. Angiology 2004;55:93–7.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Frickhofen N, Beck FJ, Jung B, Fuhr HG, Andrasch H, Sigmund H. Capecitabine can induce acute coronary syndrome similar to 5-fluorouracil. Ann Oncol 2002;13:797–801.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Gorgulu S, Celik S, Tezel T. A case of coronary spasm induced by 5-fluorouracil. Acta Cardiol 2002;57:381–3.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Schnetzler B, Popova N, Collao Lamb C, Sappino AP. Coronary spasm induced by capecitabine. Ann Oncol 2001;12:723–4.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Boyle JJ, Wilson B, Harrower S, Weissberg PL, Fan TP. Expression of angiogenic factor thymidine phosphorylase and angiogenesis in human atherosclerosis. J Pathol 2000;192:234–42.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to C. Camaro.

Additional information

Departments of Cardiology, Rijnstate Hospital Arnhem and Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, the Netherlands

Department of Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology Section, Rijnstate Hospital, Arnhem, the Netherlands

C. Camaro Department of Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology Section, Rijnstate Hospital, PO Box 9555, 6800 TA Arnhem, the Netherlands and Department of Cardiology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Camaro, C., Danse, P.W. & Bosker, H.A. Acute chest pain in a patient treated with capecitabine. NHJL 17, 288–291 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03086268

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03086268

Navigation