title: Evaluation of left ventricular function in long-term survivors of childhood Hodgkin disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data on the presence of myocardial abnormalities in long-term Hodgkin disease survivors are contradictory. The purpose of this study was to determine if myocardial performance index (MPI) was capable of discovering cardiac abnormalities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Echocardiographic evaluation was performed in 31 survivors of Hodgkin disease (mean age 17.0 years), who received doxorubicin as part of chemotherapeutic treatment (median dose 164.8 +/- 42.5 mg/m(2)). Control group comprised 22 healthy subjects (mean age 16.7 years).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peak A velocity was increased (P = 0.004) and peak E/A velocity ratio was lower (P = 0.002) in patients compared to controls. Mean isovolumetric contraction time was longer in patients than in controls (P = 0.0001). Ejection time was significantly shorter in patients than in the controls (P = 0.001). Consequently, the MPI was significantly greater in the patients than in the controls (P = 0.0001). Abnormal MPI was found in 25/31 patients (83%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Doppler-derived index of combined systolic and diastolic myocardial performance demonstrates the presence of subtle cardiac abnormalities in the majority of Hodgkin disease survivors.
authors.affiliation: Cattedra di Cardiologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Cardio-Chirurgiche, Toraciche e Respiratorie, Seconda Università di Napoli. dianal.iarussi@unina2.it
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Iarussi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pisacane
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Indolfi
authors.forename: Fiorina
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Casale
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Martino
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Di Tullio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017741:Survivors; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left