Left Ventricular Assist Device as Destination Therapy in Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyopathy

Doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy is not uncommon and may progress to end-stage heart failure. Treatment of this condition with heart transplantation, however, requires that the primary malignancy be deemed “cured.” We present the case of a 55- year-old woman who had doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The active status of her lymphoma precluded heart transplantation. She had end-stage heart failure and underwent the insertion of a left ventricular assist device as a destination therapy.