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Case Report: Cytarabine-Induced Pericarditis And Pericardial Effusion, Rino Sato, Md, Robert Park, Md

The Medicine Forum

Introduction:

Cytarabine (cytosine arabinoside, Ara-C) is an antimetabolite analogue of cytidine that is used as a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of acute myelogenous leukemia and lymphocytic leukemias1 . The most common side effects of this therapy include myelosuppression, pancytopenia, hepatotoxicity, gastrointestinal ulceration with bleeding, and pulmonary infiltrates2. Cardio-pulmonary complications of cytarabine therapy are uncommon, but include supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, sinus bradycardia, and recurrent heart failure2, 3. Occasionally, patients may develop pericarditis leading to pericardial tamponade, which can be fatal. We report a case of cytarabine-induced pericarditis and pericardial effusion to increase awareness about this serious side effect of …