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.