Anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity more likely in underweight childhood cancer survivors.
BACKGROUND
We did a retrospective medical record and echocardiogram review of patients with history of anthracyclines and/or radiation seen in a long-term survivor clinic from 2000-2007.


METHODS
Three hundred eight out of three hundred seventy (83.2%) patients had received at least 1 screening echocardiogram, and 24/308 (7.8%) patients had an abnormal echocardiogram. Observed risk factors for a future abnormal echocardiogram included anthracycline dose > or =250 mg/m2 and underweight status (BMI <5th%) at follow-up. Age, gender, radiation, anthracycline type, history of relapse, and history of stem cell transplant were not risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results confirm the dose-dependent risk of anthracyclines, and describe a novel association with underweight status.
Andolina
Jeffrey R
JR
Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. jandolina@childrensmemorial.org
Dilley
Kimberley
K
D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D017741:Survivors; D013851:Thinness
D018943:Anthracyclines; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic