Effect of paclitaxel administrationon P wave duration and dispersion

Abstract. The prototypic taxane paclitaxel, which disrupts tubulindynamics, has been widely used in the treatment of solidmalignancies. However, it has been associated with adversecardiac effects. Therefore, the effect of the paclitaxelinfusion on P wave duration and dispersion (PWD) wasinvestigated. Twelve-lead surface ECGs were recorded twice from12 patients with breast, ovarian and non-small-cell lungcarcinoma: one just before paclitaxel infusion and the other 1hour after the end of the infusion. The changes in maximum(Pmax) and minimum P wave duration (Pmin) were measured manuallyand the difference between the two values was defined as PWD.The mean heart rate, Pmin, did not change after the infusion.However, Pmax, PWD and the average P wave duration significantlyincreased after infusion (122 ± 5 vs. 125 ± 5 p = 0.001 and 46 ±7 vs. 53 ± 9 p = 0.03, 97 ± 5 vs. 101 ± 5ms p = 0.02respectively). We found that paclitaxel infusion increased PWDand this may be a result of the drugs effect on cardiacautonomic modulation.