Early detection of postchemotherapy cardiotoxicity (Firt Part)

Abstract

Introduction: Pharmacological development has become widely used in favor of improving survival and remission rates in cancer. The toxicity of some therapies has limited an adequate administration of treatment regimens with the decrease of their efficacy; especially cardiac diseases have been of greatest interest.

Objective: To describe the knowledge about the mechanisms of cardiotoxicity, the conventional methods for its assessment, as well as the new strategies for its early detection, follow-up and treatment.

Methods: An updated narrative review was carried out of the adverse effects of chemotherapy on the heart, its mechanisms of cardiotoxicity, as well as the methods developed for its diagnosis and prevention.

Results: Of the most worrisome side effects, cardiotoxicity and heart failure are the ones of greatest concern, due to multifactorial mechanisms. Emphasis has been placed on strategies to prevent it and the most effective way to treat these patients. Therefore, understanding the pathophysiological and molecular bases are key to determining preventive and therapeutic measures that allow a decrease in the incidence of toxicity, without influencing the effectiveness of oncologic therapy.

Conclusions: Prevention and treatment are short- and long-term measures that should be taken in an interdisciplinary way between cardiologists and oncologists in order to achieve a global approach towards the patient, in view of facilitating an adequate evolution with the least number of side effects or interruptions, which would guarantee a better vital prognosis.

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