Doxorubicin hydrochloride is a chemotherapeutic agent highly effective against a wide range of neoplasms. A prime limiting factor to the administration of this drug is cardiotoxicity, which frequently develops when the cumulative dose exceeds 500 mg/sq m. Late cardiomyopathy, which may develop up to a year after therapy has been discontinued, was thought to be rapidly progressive and unresponsive to standard cardiac therapy. An adult who received 475 mg/sq m of doxorubicin hydrochloride experienced a cardiotoxic reaction one year after the completion of therapy. The patient responded to standard cardiac therapy. Resolution of left ventricular dysfunction was verified by echocardiography and radionuclide angiocardiography.
(Arch Intern Med 1982;142:1570-1571)