Overview of cardiac pathology in relation to anthracycline cardiotoxicity.

A review is presented of cardiac pathologic changes associated with acute and chronic toxicity of anthracyclines. These changes consist of cardiac dilatation, degeneration and atrophy of the muscle cells, and interstitial edema and fibrosis. The degeneration of cardiac muscle cells is a complex phenomenon that involves the myofibrils, the nucleus, the mitochondria and the membrane systems of the T-tubules, the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and the intercellular junctions. The pathogenesis of these alteration is discussed in terms of the biochemical effects of anthracyclines.