Shokr, Mohamed

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is the third most common chemotherapeutic agent for treating solid cancers and the second most common to cause cardiotoxicity. We present a rare case of acute reversible severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction associated with 5-FU. A 54-year-old woman with a history of stage IV gastric cancer presented with features of transient ischaemic attack after receiving the first dose of FLOT (5-FU, leucovorin, oxaliplatin and docetaxel). During the diagnostic workup, it was found that her ejection fraction was severely reduced to 15% with features of global hypokinesis, which later improved back to 65% within 13 days. These cases challenge our current understanding of the underlying mechanisms of this cardiotoxicity. Additionally, even though the patient did not experience any cardiac symptoms, it is important to monitor these patients closely as they are at high risk for fatal complications like arrhythmia and thrombus formation.

Background Evidence exists for racial/ethnic differences in left ventricular mass index (LVMI). How this translates to future cardiovascular disease (CVD) events is unknown. Hypothesis The impact of racial/ethnic differences in LVMI on incident cardiovascular outcomes could have potential implications for the optimization of risk stratification strategies. Methods Using the prospectively collected database of the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) involving 4 racial/ethnic groups (non‐Hispanic Whites, Chinese, Blacks, and Hispanics) free of CVD at baseline, we assessed for racial/ethnic differences in the relationship between LVMI and incident CVD using a Cox model. Results 5004 participants (mean age, 62 ± 10 years; 48% male) were included in this study. After an average follow‐up of 10.2 years, 369 (7.4%) CVD events occurred. Significant racial/ethnic differences existed in the relationship between LVMI and incident CVD ( P for interaction = 0.04). Notably, the relationship was strongest for Chinese (HR per 10‐unit increase in LVMI: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1–2.8) and Hispanics (HR per 10‐unit increase in LVMI: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.5–2.2). Non‐Hispanic Whites demonstrated the lowest relationship (HR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1–1.5). LVMI values of 36.9 g/m 2.7 , 31.8 g/m 2.7 , 39.9 g/m 2.7 , and 41.7 g/m 2.7 were identified as optimal cutpoints for defining left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) for non‐Hispanic Whites, Chinese, Blacks, and Hispanics, respectively. In secondary analysis of LVH (vs no LVH) using these optimal cutpoints, we found a similar pattern of association as above ( P for interaction = 0.04). For example, compared with those without LVH, Chinese with LVH had HR: 5.3, 95% CI: 1.6–17, whereas non‐Hispanic Whites with LVH had HR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.2–2.1 for CVD events. Conclusions Among 4 races/ethnicities studied, LVMI has more prognostic utility predicting future CVD events for Chinese and Hispanics and is least significant for non‐Hispanic Whites.