Acute Doxorubicin Cardiotoxicity

To the Editor: A previously healthy 78-year-old woman presented with facial flushing, palpitations, diarrhea, and generalized weakness. The serum serotonin level was markedly elevated (2233 ng per milliliter; normal, <180), as was urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) (118.7 mg...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inThe New England journal of medicine Vol. 352; no. 23; pp. 2456 - 2457
Main Authors Hayek, Emil R, Speakman, Eric, Rehmus, Esther
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Massachusetts Medical Society 09.06.2005
Subjects
Aged
Antibiotics, Antineoplastic - adverse effects
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols - administration & dosage
Carcinoid Tumor - drug therapy
Chemoembolization, Therapeutic - adverse effects
Doxorubicin - adverse effects
Female
Humans
Liver Neoplasms - drug therapy
Myocardial Stunning - chemically induced
Pulmonary Edema - chemically induced
Ventricular Dysfunction, Left - chemically induced
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:To the Editor: A previously healthy 78-year-old woman presented with facial flushing, palpitations, diarrhea, and generalized weakness. The serum serotonin level was markedly elevated (2233 ng per milliliter; normal, <180), as was urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) (118.7 mg per 24 hours; normal, <6.0), and a computed tomographic (CT) scan revealed a small-bowel mass, 3 cm by 2.5 cm, with multiple hepatic lesions. Fine-needle liver biopsy demonstrated cytokeratin- and chromogranin-staining cells, which are characteristic of carcinoid tumor. Despite monthly injections of octreotide, the patient's flushing persisted, and a CT scan showed enlargement of both small-bowel and liver masses. She . . .
ISSN:0028-4793
1533-4406
DOI:10.1056/NEJM200506093522321