Long-term cardiac follow-up in survivors of a malignant bone tumour.
BACKGROUND
Longitudinal studies of cardiac function in long-term childhood cancer survivors are scarce and frequently concern a median follow-up shorter than 13 years.


METHODS
Cardiac assessment was performed in 22 doxorubicin-treated long-term survivors of a malignant bone tumour at median 22 years (range 15-27.5) post-treatment. Age at follow-up was 39 years (range 27-59) and cumulative dose of doxorubicin was 360 mg/m(2) (range 225-550). Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography and (24-h) ECG. The results were compared with those of earlier assessments at 9 years (1992) and 14 years (1997) post-treatment.


RESULTS
Systolic dysfunction was found in 27% (9% in 1997; P = 0.02) and diastolic dysfunction in 45% (18% in 1997; P = 0.02). Heart rate variability showed further deterioration compared with earlier results.


CONCLUSIONS
Twenty-two years after doxorubicin-treatment, bone tumour survivors showed progressive cardiac dysfunction.
Brouwer
C A J
CA
Subdivision Paediatric Oncology, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. c.a.j.brouwer@bkk.umcg.nl
Gietema
J A
JA
van den Berg
M P
MP
Bink-Boelkens
M T E
MT
Elzenga
N J
NJ
Haaksma
J
J
Kamps
W A
WA
Vonk
J M
JM
de Vries
E G E
EG
Postma
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017741:Survivors; D013995:Time
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004317:Doxorubicin