Clinical Insights into Cisplatin-Induced Arrhythmia in a Patient with Locally Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Case Report

Abstract Introduction: Cardiotoxicity is a common adverse effect of many antineoplastic agents including anthracyclines and paclitaxel. However, it has not been defined as a causal side effect of cisplatin.Case report: We report a 69-year-old male with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer who developed a cardiotoxic event induced by cisplatin that was manifested primarily as arrhythmia. The frequency and severity of the arrhythmia had a strong temporal relationship with the administration of cisplatin, which made it probable that cisplatin was responsible for the cardiotoxicity observed. Discussion: The arrhythmias might be at least partly due to cancer pain through stimulation of the sympathetic nerves. Therefore, particular attention should be paid to patients with pre-existing cardiac disease and/or mediastinal tumors. It is important to evaluate cardiac function prior to chemotherapy and to consider cardiac monitoring during cisplatin infusions in susceptible patients with no more ECG abnormalities detected.