Cardiotoxicity in anthracycline therapy: Prevention strategies. / Cardiotoxicidade na terapêutica com antraciclinas: estratégias de prevenção.

The increasing use of anthracyclines, together with the longer survival of cancer patients, means the toxic effects of these drugs need to be monitored. In order to detect, prevent or mitigate anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy, it is essential that all patients undergo a rigorous initial cardiovascular assessment, followed by close monitoring. Several clinical trials have shown the cardioprotective effect of non-pharmacological measures such as exercise, healthy lifestyles, control of risk factors and treatment of comorbidities; a cardioprotective effect has also been observed with pharmacological measures such as beta-blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor antagonists, statins, dexrazoxane and liposomal formulations. However, there are currently no guidelines for managing prevention in these patients. In this review the authors discuss the state of the art of the assessment, monitoring, and, above all, the prevention of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity.

Perception of illness symptoms in patients with acute coronary syndrome: a need to improve.

BACKGROUND: Interpretation of the symptoms of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) can influence the time of hospital admission and negatively affect patients' prognosis. We decided to explore illness perception and its predictors among patients with ACS. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients with ACS admitted to the cardiology department of a tertiary hospital between January and September 2011. Data were obtained from patients' medical records and telephone interviews. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-six patients with ACS (mean age 64 ± 12 years; 70% male) were included. The majority (62.6%) had no perception of ACS until informed by their doctor. Only 26% of patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction had perception of cardiac disease. Among those who had perception, 82.6% were men and 58% had a previous diagnosis of ischemic heart disease (IHD). Gender and previous diagnosis of IHD were independent predictors of ACS perception, with male gender and patients with previous IHD having greater illness perception. No association was found between ACS perception and age or residence area (rural vs. urban). CONCLUSIONS: The illness perception of ACS patients needs to be improved, independently of sociodemographic factors. An educational program for the general population, but particularly for women and individuals without a past history of IHD, focusing on the alert signs for ACS, may help to improve illness perception in this setting.