Suppression of mitoxantrone cardiotoxicity in multiple sclerosis patients by dexrazoxane.

OBJECTIVE To explore the potential of dexrazoxane to suppress subclinical cardiotoxicity in MS patients receiving mitoxantrone. METHODS An open-label study was performed to evaluate possible subclinical cardiotoxicity in multiple sclerosis patients treated quarterly with mitoxantrone (48 mg/m(2) cumulative), with and without concomitant dexrazoxane, using blinded serial radionucleide ventriculography. RESULTS No patient experienced symptoms of heart failure. Patients receiving dexrazoxane, which is cardioprotective for anthracyclines, exhibited a significantly lesser decline in left ventricular ejection fraction (mean change, -3.80% vs -8.55%, p < 0.001). INTERPRETATION These results support a cardioprotective effect of dexrazoxane in mitoxantrone treated multiple sclerosis patients.