title: Right ventricular function in long-term adult survivors of childhood lymphoma and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Little is known about right ventricular (RV) function in survivors of childhood cancer, although both anthracyclines and radiotherapy represent potentially cardiotoxic treatment. We hypothesized that adult survivors of childhood malignant lymphoma or acute lymphoblastic leukaemia would have impaired RV function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We examined RV dimensions and function by echocardiography in 246 survivors, mean 21.7 years after diagnosis, and in 211 matched controls. Of the survivors, 84% had been exposed to anthracyclines, mediastinal radiotherapy, or both. Compared with controls, all mean measures of RV function were lower in the survivor group: fractional area change (44.5 vs. 48.6%, P < 0.001), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (2.24 vs. 2.49 cm, P < 0.001), peak systolic tricuspid annular velocity (12.1 vs. 13.0 cm/s, P < 0.001), and free wall strain (-26.5 vs. -28.4%, P < 0.001). In contrast, there were little differences in RV diastolic dimensions. Lower measures of RV function were found in all survivor subgroups having received cardiotoxic treatment, but not in the 16% of survivors unexposed to anthracyclines or mediastinal radiotherapy. Signs of RV systolic dysfunction were found in 30% of the survivors, and more than 3 times more often in survivors with left ventricular dysfunction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term survivors of childhood lymphoma or acute lymphoblastic leukaemia frequently have impaired RV function compared with controls. As this is associated with increased risk of heart failure and death in many other conditions, we recommend increased attention to RV function in childhood survivors. Whether RV dysfunction impairs prognosis in this patient group should be examined in longitudinal studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway Department of Medicine, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Elverum, Norway jorch@online.no.
authors.forename: Jon R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Massey
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Levanger Hospital, Nord-Trøndelag Health Trust, Levanger, Norway Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Håvard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dalen
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Adriani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanellopoulos
authors.affiliation: National Advisory Unit for Late Effects after Cancer Treatment, Oslo University Hospital, Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Hanne
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamre
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruud
authors.affiliation: National Advisory Unit for Late Effects after Cancer Treatment, Oslo University Hospital, Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Cecilie E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Kiserud
authors.affiliation: National Advisory Unit for Late Effects after Cancer Treatment, Oslo University Hospital, Radiumhospitalet, Oslo, Norway Cancer Registry of Norway, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Sophie D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Fosså
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Svend
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aakhus
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D066126:Cardiotoxicity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009664:Norway; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D012016:Reference Values; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012737:Sex Factors; D017741:Survivors; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines
keywords: RV function; cardiotoxicity; childhood cancer survivor; echocardiography