Anthracycline‑induced delayed‑onset cardiac toxicity: A case report and literature review

Anthracyclic (ANT) drugs are widely used for patients with malignant tumors and can markedly prolong the disease-free survival rate of patients. As its clinical application becomes more common, information regarding serious cardiotoxicity as a result of ANT treatment is becoming understood. However, to the best of our knowledge, delayed-onset cardiotoxicity due to ANT use has not been studied sufficiently. The present report describes a 36-year-old male patient who presented to Guiqian International General Hospital (Guiyang, China) with a complaint of dyspnea in the last 10 days. Substantially elevated B-type natriuretic peptide levels and echocardiography showing enlargement of the entire heart, of the patient suggested that severe heart failure was the cause of his symptoms. However, the cause of this potential heart failure was not apparent until the patient was questioned about his cancer treatment history. Following consultation to evaluate the assessment of end-stage heart failure, currently only anti-heart failure treatment and symptomatic treatment can be provided. The present report describes this case and reviews the existing literature to provide a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with delayed-onset heart failure following ANT treatment.