Failure of the antioxidant vitamin E to protect against adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity in the rabbit

Recently, vitamin E has been proposed to protect against Adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity. We studied contractile decline and ultramicroscopic alterations of the heart of rabbits chronically treated with Adriamycin up to a cumulative dose of 400 mg/sq m. High doses of vitamin E did not protect against the Adriamycin-induced development of severe contractile decline as evaluated by means of measurement of the interval-force relationship curve. Light and electron microscopic analysis did not show any signs of protection against Adriamycin-induced morphological alterations. Biochemical and hematological alterations caused by the antineoplastic agent were similar in both Adriamycin-treated animal groups. Coadministration of vitamin E did result in an increased life span. This study indicates that vitamin E does not protect against the development of cardiomyopathy and contractile decline after chronic exposure to Adriamycin.