Affiliation:
1. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic‐Molecular Function of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of Cardiology The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University Tianjin China
2. Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University Tianjin Institute of Urology Tianjin China
3. Kent and Medway Medical School Canterbury Kent UK
4. School of Nursing and Health Studies Hong Kong Metropolitan University Hong Kong China
Abstract
AbstractObjectivePatients treated with preoperative chemotherapy and immunotherapy for bladder cancer may be at increased risk of cardiotoxicity and electrophysiological abnormalities. This study aimed to analyze their electrocardiographic (ECG) alterations.MethodsPatients with bladder cancer who were hospitalized and receiving tislelizumab plus nab‐paclitaxel (TnP) were enrolled prospectively. ECG, cardiac biomarkers, and echocardiography were performed at baseline and the end of TnP.ResultsA total of 60 patients (76.7% males), including 30 muscle‐invasive and 30 non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer, received three or four cycles of TnP, respectively. Hypertension was the commonest comorbidity (41.7%), and 25 patients (41.7%) were prescribed cardiovascular drugs. In comparison with baseline characteristics, cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) were within normal ranges after TnP. However, echocardiographic parameter of left ventricular ejection fraction slightly decreased after TnP (62.81 ± 3.81% to 61.10 ± 4.37%, p = .011). The incidence of abnormal ECG increased from 65.0% at baseline to 76.7%, of which only a higher prevalence of fragmented QRS (fQRS) was observed (33.3% to 50.0%, p = .013; mainly in inferior leads). ECG parameters of QT dispersion (QTd) were prolonged significantly after the regimen (39.50 ± 11.37 to 44.20 ± 15.85 ms, p = .019).ConclusionIn bladder cancer patients receiving preoperative chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy, the main ECG abnormality was fQRS and QTd, with relatively normal cardiac biomarkers and echocardiographic parameters. Regular ECG screening should be carried out carefully to detect potential cardiotoxicity in the long‐term follow‐up.
Funder
Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin City
National Natural Science Foundation of China
Subject
Physiology (medical),Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine,General Medicine