title: Late cardiotoxicity after low dose of anthracycline therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Late cardiotoxicity is a known complication of anthracycline therapy but the long-term effects of low cumulative doses are not well documented. We studied late cardiotoxicity in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated with low anthracycline doses 10 to 20 years earlier.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-seven ALL survivors who received a cumulative anthracycline dose <250 mg/m² and were at least 10 years after treatment were evaluated for signs of clinical heart failure. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography including tissue Doppler measurements of the septal mitral annulus in 37 ALL survivors 10.6-18.3 years (median 13.3 years) after anthracycline treatment with cumulative doses of 180 (n = 19) or 240 mg/m² (n = 18). The control group consisted of 30 healthy volunteers matched for age, sex, BSA, and BMI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No clinical relevant cardiotoxicity was found. Left ventricular shortening fraction (SF) was significantly reduced in male ALL survivors. Three of the 19 male ALL survivors had an SF below 30%. Male ALL survivors showed a significantly lower early filling velocity to atrial contraction velocity ratio but myocardial velocity during early filling was comparable between patients and controls. ALL survivors had a significantly longer isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT). Thirty percent of the ALL survivors have an abnormal IVRT compared to the normal range of the controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At a median of 13.3 years after exposure to cumulative doses of anthracyclines of 180 or 240 mg/m², no clinical relevant cardiotoxicity was found but subclinical cardiac abnormalities were present in 30% of the patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, Ghent, Belgium. els.vandecruys@ugent.be
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vandecruys
authors.forename: Veerle
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mondelaers
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Wolf
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Benoit
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Suys
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012737:Sex Factors; D017741:Survivors; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic