[Cardioverter-defibrillator in the treatment of arrhythmia induced by trastuzumab used in the adjuvant setting in a patient with positive human epidermal growth factor receptor type-2 breast cancer]

Kardiol Pol. 2012;70(7):756-7.
[Article in Polish]

Abstract

A case of a 36-year old woman with HER2-positive early breast cancer treated with adjuvant trastuzumab left ventricle dysfunction and cardiac arrest in ventricular fibrillation mechanism is presented. After having been successfully resuscitated, trastuzumab therapy was withheld, pharmacotherapy (beta-blocker, ACE-I) implemented and ICD was implanted. Echocardiography performed 6 months later, revealed normal systolic function of the left ventricle. The patient died despite further oncologic treatment due to progression of the disease. The authors discuss the approach to this dramatic but lone cardiac side effect of trastuzumab treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / chemically induced*
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / diagnostic imaging
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Defibrillators, Implantable*
  • Echocardiography
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism*
  • Trastuzumab

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Trastuzumab