Comparison of echocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography in the follow-up of left ventricular systolic function in adult lymphoma patients during doxorubicin therapy.
OBJECTIVE
To compare echocardiography (ECHO) and radionuclide ventriculography (RVG) in the monitoring of left ventricular systolic function during doxorubicin therapy in adult lymphoma patients.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
A total of 28 adult patients who received doxorubicin to a cumulative dose of 400-500 mg m(-2).


METHODS
ECHO and RVG were performed at baseline and after cumulative doxorubicin doses of 200, 400 and 500 mg m(-2).


RESULTS
At baseline, the mean (+/-SE) left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF) were 58 +/- 1.3, 71 +/- 1.8 and 58 +/- 1.7% as determined by RVG, M-mode ECHO and two-dimensional (2D) ECHO, respectively. After the cumulative doxorubicin dose of 500 mg m(-2) LVEF decreased to 49.6 +/- 1.7% (RVG) (P < 0.001), 62 +/- 1.6% (M-mode) (P=0.006) and 52.5 +/- 1.3% (2D ECHO) (P=0.036). Although a significant correlation between LVEF determined by RVG and M-mode ECHO (r=0.615, P=0.002) and a trend between RVG and 2D ECHO (r=0.364, P=0.096) were observed, there were substantial differences in the results of individual patients. In the agreement analysis using the method of Bland and Altman there was a mean difference of 12% units with the upper limit of agreement +26% units and the lower limit of agreement -2.1% units for LVEF determinations with M-mode ECHO and RVG, and a mean difference of 3.3% units with upper and lower limits of agreement +19.6 and -13.1% units for LVEF determinations with 2D ECHO and RVG, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
We found only a moderate agreement between left ventricular systolic function determined by ECHO and RVG methods. Thus, in the follow-up of left ventricular function in adult patients during doxorubicin therapy, the guidelines based on LVEF measurement by RVG cannot be applied to ECHO. Consequently, RVG remains the method of choice in this context.
Nousiainen
T
T
Department of Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland. tapio.nousiainen@kuh.fi
Vanninen
E
E
Jantunen
E
E
Puustinen
J
J
Remes
J
J
Rantala
A
A
Hartikainen
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018619:Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015635:Radionuclide Ventriculography; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004317:Doxorubicin