Multicentre analysis of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in children following treatment according to the nephroblastoma studies SIOP No.9/GPOH and SIOP 93-01/GPOH.
BACKGROUND
To study cardiac function and the incidence of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity in children following treatment according to the nephroblastoma studies SIOP No.9/GPOH and SIOP 93-01/GPOH.


METHODS
Analysis of clinical status, echocardiography, and ECG findings prior to administration of anthracyclines (median cumulative doxorubicin dose: 250 mg/m(2) [range: 90-411 mg/m(2)] and after a median posttherapeutic interval of 2.9 years [range: 0-10.2 years]. Data on cardiac function before and/or after therapy could be obtained of 186 patients.


RESULTS
Posttherapy left ventricular fractional shortening was reduced in 4/157 (2.5%) patients. Out of the 4 children, 2 had clinically reduced tolerance to exercise and received anticongestive therapy. Abnormal ECG findings that were not detectable prior to therapy were found in 7/124 (5.6%) children.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of abnormal findings is low in our study group in comparison to data from the literature and might be due to the comparably short posttherapeutic interval.
Marx
M
M
Department of Immunology and Oncology, University Hospital for Children and Adolescents Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany.
Langer
T
T
Graf
N
N
Hausdorf
G
G
Stöhr
W
W
Ludwig
R
R
Beck
J D
JD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009396:Wilms Tumor / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D003609:Dactinomycin; D014750:Vincristine