A 72-year-old previously healthy woman was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer and was initiated on FAC chemotherapy (5-fluorouracil, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide) 3 months ago. She now presents to the emergency room complaining of exertional dyspnea, orthopnea, and lower extremity edema. Her vital signs are normal, her EKG is normal, and her chest x-ray shows cardiomegaly and pulmonary vascular congestion.
What is the most likely cause of the patient's new symptoms?
- malignant pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade
- acute pericarditis due to viral infection
- anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy
- valvular aortic stenosis
- acute myocardial infarction
Answer(s): C
Explanation:
This patient has clinical signs of congestive heart failure. Cardiomyopathy may be a complication of chemotherapy containing anthracyclines (doxorubicin, daunorubicin, idarubicin, epirubicin). The cumulative anthracycline dose is the most widely recognized risk factor for this problem, although it is more common in patients over 70, patients with any other history of heart disease, or those with a history of thoracic radiation treatment. Other reversible causes of heart failure such as ischemic cardiomyopathy should be investigated. Patients with anthracycline cardiomyopathy frequently have recovery of systolic function with standard medical heart failure therapy. Lack of chest pain and a normal EKG make acute pericarditis or acute myocardial infarction unlikely. Pericardial effusion with tamponade might cause dyspnea and edema, but not pulmonary vascular congestion or pulmonary edema.
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