A retrospective study of cardiotoxicities induced by 5-Fluouracil (5-FU) and 5-FU based chemotherapy regimens in Pakistani adult cancer patients at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center

Objective: to study cardiotoxicities, especially bradycardia in cancer patients treated with 5-fluouracil and 5- fluouracil based chemotherapy regimens in pakistani population. methods: data was extracted from the medical records of all diagnosed cancer patients at shaukat khanummemorial cancer hospital and research center registered between january 2002 and december 2004 receiving 5- fluouracil based chemotherapy regimens. the data was analysed retrospectively, including electrocardiogram and cardiac markers. pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated to see any possible correlation between 5-fluouracil alone and 5-fluouracil based regimens and cardiotoxicity, and other variables. results: symptomatic cardiotoxicity was observed in 60 (19.93%) out of 301 patients whose cases were part of the study. bradycardia was the most common cardiotoxicity and was observed in 36 (11.96%) patients. nine (2.99%) mortalities were also observed. the incidence of cardiotoxicity was not significantly different between the patients with and without pre-existing cardiovascular disease (p = 0.095) and having negative correlation - 0.305. cardiotoxicities were more common with continuous infusion (ci) of 5-fluouracil, radiotherapy concurrent with 5-fluouracil and when 5-fluouracil was used in combination with cisplatinum (cddp). conclusion: cardiotoxicities were more prevalent when 5-fluouracil was used along with concurrent radiotherapy and with cisplatinum and when administered in continuous infusion pattern. hence, 5-fluouracil and 5-fluouracil based chemotherapy regimens cause cardiotoxicities, especially bradycardia, in a significant number of cancer patients in pakistani population.