Clinical and electrocardiography changes in patients treated with capecitabine.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We aimed to identify the incidence of cardiac events with capecitabine treatment. METHODS: The study included 52 patients (median age 59 years) with cancer treated at our Medical Oncology Clinic between 2009 and 2010. Cardiac events from capecitabine treatment were classified into 4 groups cardiac symptoms, physical signs, electrocardiography (ECG) findings, and severe adverse cardiac effects. RESULTS: The patients received either single-agent capecitabine or a combination chemotherapy including capecitabine. After initiation of capecitabine, 18 patients (34.6%) had new onset cardiovascular symptoms, 6 (11.5%) had new onset physical signs and 17 (32.6%) had new onset ECG findings. New onset ECG findings included prolonged corrected QT interval (n = 10, 19.2%) and prolonged PR interval (n = 3, 5.8%). Severe adverse capecitabine-induced cardiac side effects were observed in 5.8% of the patients, but none of the patients had myocardial infarction or died. CONCLUSION: Cardiac events are not rare during capecitebine treatment and patients should be followed closely to avoid cardiac morbidity and mortality.