Cardiotoxicity of palladium compounds

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that palladium has toxic effects on the kidney and liver, leads to deterioration of the general condition of animals, and could cause allergy in animals and humans. Considering the limited data about the influence of palladium on the cardiovascular system, the aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of palladium on the heart from available published data, and to compare the toxicity of inorganic and organic palladium compounds. Relevant studies for our review were identified from PubMed and Scopus databases. The search terms included «palladium », «palladium compound», «cardiotoxicity», «toxicity», «heart», «myocardium», «oxidative stress» and «myocardial enzyme», as well as combinations of these terms. There were only two published studies with the primary purpose to investigate the effect of palladium on the cardiovascular system, while others registered the side-effects of palladium compounds on the heart. Palladium could cause arrhythmias, a drop in blood pressure, decrease of the heart rate, as well as death of experimental animals. Based on the presented data it seems that palladium does not express significant cardiac toxicity when it is bound in an organic compound. Further investigation of the effects of palladium on the heart is necessary for a clear picture of the nature and extent of its cardiac toxicity.