Adriamycin cardiomyopathy with congestive heart failure, cardiogenic shock and emergency heart transplant: 30-year follow up

Doxorubicin chemotherapeutic agent is widely utilized for many types of cancers since the late 1960s. Cardiomyopathy is a well-known side effect of doxorubicin often limiting its use. In many cases doxorubicin cardiomyopathy can lead to end stage cardiac failure requiring heart transplantation. The quality of life of heart transplant patients is exceptional with most patients being able to continue normal activities following recovery. There has been significant advancement in cardiac transplantation since it was first attempted in 1967 in Cape Town, South Africa. Drugs such as cyclosporine played an important role in preventing graft failure and prolonging patient survival. Cardiac transplant can extend a patients’ life by over a decade. The patient in this case, Mr. Glen Frank Spurling, has survived 30 years following his cardiac transplant surgery. In this article an overview of doxorubicin cardiotoxicity, cardiac transplantation, and an interview with Mr. Glen Frank Spurling is presented.