Cardiotoxicity from Capecitabine Chemotherapy: Prospective Study of Incidence at Rest and During Physical Exercise.

Background: Physical activity may increase the risk of cardiotoxicity (myocardial ischemia, major arrhythmias) of 5-Fluorouracil, but this risk has never been investigated for its prodrug capecitabine.

Patients And Methods: One hundred and ninety-two consecutive patients undergoing capecitabine chemotherapy from December 1, 2010 through July 31, 2016 were prospectively evaluated. The baseline evaluation included electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography (2DE); a follow-up evaluation, including ECG and exercise stress testing (2DE in case of ECG abnormalities), was done after ≥10 days of treatment.

Fluoropyrimidine-Associated Cardiotoxicity: Probably Not So Rare As It Seems.

This letter to the editor focuses on a recent report of a retrospective case‐control study of fluoropyrimidine‐associated cardiotoxicity in cancer patients.

Effort myocardial ischemia during chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil: an underestimated risk.

Background: Effort-induced myocardial ischemia (EMI) has been seldom described. Aims of our study were (A) to evaluate the prevalence of EMI during long-lasting 5-FU infusion; (B) to identify possible risk factors of EMI during 5-FU infusion.

Patients And Methods: For the purpose (A), we prospectively evaluated a group of patients undergoing in-hospital continuous infusion (c.