Arrhythmogenic Anticancer Drugs in Cardio-Oncology

Abstract

Multiple cancer therapies are associated with cardiac arrhythmias through a variety of pathophysiologic mechanisms. Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter are common during cancer therapy but should rarely limit continued delivery of therapy. Ventricular arrhythmias are not common during cancer therapy and are more often secondary to other cardiac pathologies. QT interval monitoring is recommended for some agents, although it is often not a reliable predictor of ventricular arrhythmias. Bradyarrhythmias are common and rarely require intervention, but special attention must be paid to heart block in checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Keywords: Arrhythmia; Atrial fibrillation; Cardio-oncology; Chemotherapy; Heart block; Ventricular tachycardia.