[The diagnosis of anthracycline-induced cardiac damage and heart failure]

Postepy Hig Med Dosw (Online). 2009 May 7:63:225-33.
[Article in Polish]

Abstract

Routine examinations during chemotherapy containing anthracyclines evaluate heart function before treatment and monitor cardiotoxic effects during and after therapy. A number of methods are useful in cardiac assessment, including electrocardiography, radiology techniques (RTG, CT, MRI,PET-CT, PET-MRI), echocardiography, radioisotope imaging techniques (scintigraphy, MUGA,PET), and ultra-structure evaluation in biopsy samples. Nevertheless, there is a continuous need for new methods to predict future damage at the initial stages of cardiac changes. In recent years the therapeutic usefulness of biochemical blood parameters in anthracycline-treated patients has been assessed. The levels of cardiac troponins (cTnI, cTnT), natriuretic peptides (ANP, BNP), and endothelin 1 have been included in the studies. Heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) is another promising factor showing cardiomyocytic impairment. However, the clinical use of biochemical parameters in diagnosing anthracycline-related cardiotoxicity is still a controversial issue.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anthracyclines / adverse effects*
  • Cardiotoxins / adverse effects*
  • Endothelins / blood
  • Heart Failure / blood
  • Heart Failure / chemically induced*
  • Heart Failure / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Natriuretic Peptides / blood
  • Troponin / blood

Substances

  • Anthracyclines
  • Cardiotoxins
  • Endothelins
  • Natriuretic Peptides
  • Troponin