Thursday, March 10, 2016

Chemo II

Three months after finishing this ruby red chemotherapy regimen, a patient develops shortness of breath. He gets tired even after climbing a flight of stairs. He's noticed some swelling of his legs. At night, he props himself up with pillows to avoid waking up gasping for air.

Challenge; What chemotherapeutic agent caused this?

Image is in the public domain.

3 comments:

webhillizzy said...

Adriamycin

RaH said...

I bet this is Anthracyclin-cardio-toxicity!
These Anthracyclins are a class of antibiotics used as chemotherapy (not sure if it is Idarubicin on the picture). classical side effects are Cardiomyopathie-> chronic heart failure.

-> i got my medical exam coming up this summer... a few "basic" cases of the day would be greatly appreciated.

Craig said...

you're right! i didn't even know it was additionally a class of antibiotics...thanks!
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Chemo II

Cardiotoxicity is a hallmark of the anthracycline chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin and daunorubicin. The risk is mostly related to cumulative dose, and the presentation is systolic or diastolic dysfunction progressing to heart failure.

Source: UpToDate; Wikipedia.