TACHYARRHYTHMIAS IN PATIENTS WITH CANCER

Abstract

Arrhythmia is often detected in cancer patient, from single ventricular premature contractions to sustained ventricular tachycardia, life threatening ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death. Oncology per se, aggressive anticancer treatment, both chemotherapy and radiation and basic cardiac conditions are main causative factors for tachyarrhythmia. In this review we summarize evidence of arrhythmia and emphasize the importance of cardiac monitoring for the early diagnosis, intervention and surveillance of those patients more susceptible to develop proarrhythmia. Oncologists should be fully aware of arrhythmia and the close collaboration between cardiologists and oncologists would result in a better cardiovascular assessment, risk stratification, cardiac monitoring and treatment.

Keywords

• tachyarrhythmia
• oncology
• chemotherapy
• arrhythmogenic action
• supraventricular tachycardia
• ventricular tachycardia
• cardiooncology
• cardiotoxicity