Pri bolnikih, ki so se zdravili zaradi raka v otroštvu, so okvare kardiovaskularnega sistema med poglavitnimi vzroki pozne umrljivosti, ki je sedem-krat večja kot pri splošni populaciji. ...Najpogostejši vzrok komplikacij na srcu pri bolnikih z rakom so antraciklini ki sodijo med najučinkovitejša zdravila neoplastičnih bolezni. Pri opisu primera našega bolnika želimo opozoriti na napredujočo okvaro srčne mišice po zdravljenju ne-Hodgkinovega limfoma s kemoterapijo, ki je vsebovala antracikline in alkilirajoče agense, in je 28 let po končanem zdravljenju privedla do odpovedi srca, zaradi katere je bila potrebna transplantacija srca. Pri bolnikih, zdravljenih z antracikini, je zelo pomembno doživljenjsko sledenje funkcije srca, da vsako motnjo (tudi klinično nemo) na srcu čim prej odkrijemo in ustrezno zdravimo. Ehokardiografija je najpogosteje uporabljena diagnostična metoda za ocenjevanje delovanja srca v okviru sledenja poznih posledic zdravljenja s citostatiki in/ali obsevanjem. Zelo pomembno je morebitne okvare najti v fazi, ko je bolnik še asimptomatski, saj lahko z ustreznim zdravljenjem (predvsem ACE inhibitorji in beta-blokatorji) in ustreznim načinom življenja in zmanjševanjem drugih dejavnikov tveganja za razvoj kardiovaskularnih obolenj preprečimo oz. upočasnimo razvoj življenje ogrožujoče okvare srca.
Potassium channels are the most variable ion channel group. They participate in numerous cardiovascular functions, for example regulation of vascular tone, maintenance of resting cardiac membrane ...potential and excitability of cardiac conduction tissue. Both drugs and endogenous ligands could modulate potassium channel function, belonging to the potassium channel blockers or openers. Modulation of potassium channels could be a therapeutic or adverse drug action. Class III antiarrhythmic agents block the potassium channels, thereby prolonging repolarization phase of action potential with resulting prolongation of effective refractory period. Their effectiveness against supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias should be weighted against their proarrhythmogenic potential. In addition, numerous other antiarrhythmic agents could modulate potassium channels as well. Diazoxide, minoxidil and nicorandil (well known arterial vasodilators), as well as numerous newly synthesized substances with still unknown therapeutic potential, belong to the potassium channel activators/openers. Therapeutic use of such vasodilators may involve treatment of hypertension (diazoxide, minoxidil) and stable angina (nicorandil). Their use might be accompanied with side effects, such as vasodilation, edema, hypotension and reflex tachycardia. Potassium channel openers have also an important role in the treatment of peripheral vascular disease and pulmonary hypertension. In the future, drugs with selective effects on the vascular or cardiac potassium channels could be useful therapeutic agents.
