title: Cardiotoxicity of epirubicin and doxorubicin: a double-blind randomized study.
abstract: 24 patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma were randomized into two multidrug regimens including either epirubicin (N = 12) or doxorubicin (N = 12) to establish the cardiotoxicity of each treatment modality. At cumulative doses of 400-500 mg/m2 left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at rest determined by radionuclide angiocardiography decreased significantly more in the doxorubicin (-15 +/- 11%) than in the epirubicin group (0 +/- 13%, p less than 0.005). During epirubicin therapy no clinically significant cardiotoxicity developed, but a decrease larger than 10% in LVEF was seen in 4 of 12 patients at a mean cumulative level of 450 mg/m2. During doxorubicin therapy 1 patient developed a heart failure at a cumulative level of 200 mg/m2 and, altogether, in 7 patients LVEF decreased more than 10%. The monitoring of cardiac toxicity is imperative in patients treated with doxorubicin and is advisable if the patient is expected to receive epirubicin at more than 450 mg/m2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Kuopio University Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lahtinen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuikka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nousiainen
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uusitupa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Länsimies
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D015251:Epirubicin; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone