Ventricular Tachycardia and Takotsubo-like Syndrome in a Patient Undergoing Afatinib Treatment for Advanced Lung Adenocarcinoma

Abstract

Afatinib is a second-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer. We herein report a 61-year-old woman who developed dyspnea and ventricular tachycardia (VT) after afatinib treatment for lung adenocarcinoma. Following restoration of sinus rhythm with continuous amiodarone infusion, echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography revealed Takotsubo-like left ventricular wall motion abnormalities. Unfortunately, the patient's cardiac function did not improve, and she developed circulatory failure, which resolved on day 3 of hospitalization. Takotsubo-like cardiac dysfunction and VT should be recognized as potential side effects of afatinib.