Amsacrine is safe in patients with ventricular ectopy

Amsacrine is an active antileukemic agent known to induce cardiac arrhythmias, although the incidence of these cardiac events is low. Rhythm abnormalities associated with amsacrine use include the development of fatal tachyarrhythmias, but this risk can be minimized by ensuring a normal serum potassium level prior to drug administration. Even though amsacrine has been given safely to patients with pre-existing supraventricular arrhythmias, its safety in patients with ventricular ectopy has not been addressed. We describe two patients who underwent treatment with amsacrine without developing life-threatening dysrhythmias and show that ventricular ectopy does not contraindicate therapy with this agent.