[pericarditis following 5-fluorouracil administration]

Abstract

We report a case of pericarditis supervening after 5-fluorouracil infusion in a 52-year-old patient suffering from metastatic rectal cancer. Besides its well-known side-effects (mucitis, diarrhea, nausea, hematotoxicity), this molecule sometimes induces cardio-toxicity, which can take different clinical forms, pericarditis being one of the most uncommon. Several risk factors have been described and have to be kept in mind when initiating this therapy. Prevention may consist of close monitoring of patients considered at risk. Treatment of 5-FU induced cardiotoxicity basically consists in stopping the use of this drug and replacing it with another chemotherapy agent.