Which cardiac complication can occur as an acute toxicity of some chemotherapy regimens?

Which cardiac complication can occur as an acute toxicity of some chemotherapy regimens?

• A. Dysrhythmias
• B. Hypertension
• C. Hyperglycemia
• D. Myocardial infarction

Answer: (A)

Chemo can cause acute disturbances in the heart’s rhythm because several regimens affect the heart’s electrical activity and can disrupt electrolyte balance during or right after infusion. This makes dysrhythmias a common acute cardiac toxicity seen with some chemotherapy drugs. Electrolyte shifts (like low potassium or magnesium) or direct effects on cardiac ion channels can trigger premature beats, fast or irregular rhythms, or QT prolongation with a risk of dangerous arrhythmias. Hypertension or hyperglycemia can occur with cancer therapy in some contexts (for example, steroids or fluid shifts) but they are not typical acute cardiac toxicities in the same sense as sudden rhythm problems. Myocardial infarction is not a direct, common acute toxicity of chemotherapy, though severe complications can happen in rare circumstances; the more characteristic acute cardiac effect to recognize is dysrhythmia.

Chemo can cause acute disturbances in the heart’s rhythm because several regimens affect the heart’s electrical activity and can disrupt electrolyte balance during or right after infusion. This makes dysrhythmias a common acute cardiac toxicity seen with some chemotherapy drugs. Electrolyte shifts (like low potassium or magnesium) or direct effects on cardiac ion channels can trigger premature beats, fast or irregular rhythms, or QT prolongation with a risk of dangerous arrhythmias.

Hypertension or hyperglycemia can occur with cancer therapy in some contexts (for example, steroids or fluid shifts) but they are not typical acute cardiac toxicities in the same sense as sudden rhythm problems. Myocardial infarction is not a direct, common acute toxicity of chemotherapy, though severe complications can happen in rare circumstances; the more characteristic acute cardiac effect to recognize is dysrhythmia.