Early detection of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related subclinical cardiotoxicity: A pilot study by using speckle tracking imaging and three-dimensional echocardiography

Aiqing Xu; Ming Yuan; Xiaoping Zhan; Gangjian Zhao; Guanyu Mu; Tingting Wang; Hailong Hu; Huaying Fu

doi:10.3389/fcvm.2022.1087287

Early detection of immune checkpoint inhibitor-related subclinical cardiotoxicity: A pilot study by using speckle tracking imaging and three-dimensional echocardiography

Front Cardiovasc Med. 2022 Dec 21:9:1087287. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1087287. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Aiqing Xu^{1

2}, Ming Yuan¹, Xiaoping Zhan¹, Gangjian Zhao³, Guanyu Mu¹, Tingting Wang¹, Hailong Hu³, Huaying Fu¹

Affiliations

¹ Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic-Molecular Function of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of Cardiology, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
² Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China.
³ Department of Urology, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.

Abstract

Background: Early detection of subclinical cardiotoxicity of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy can be challenging.

Objective: To evaluate subclinical cardiac dysfunction using two-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (2D-STI) and three-dimensional echocardiography in Chinese patients.

Methods: Fifty-five consecutive patients with malignant tumors treated by immunotherapy were included. They were examined by echocardiography before immunotherapy and after immunotherapy. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was calculated in three-dimensional imaging. Moreover, left ventricular global longitudinal peak systolic strain (LVGLS), left ventricular global circumferential peak systolic strain (LVGCS), right ventricular global longitudinal systolic strain (RVGLS), right ventricular free wall longitudinal peak systolic strain (RVFWLS), and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) were evaluated. Clinical and laboratory parameters were recorded. Cardiac toxicity events were defined as the presence of heart failure symptoms, LVEF reduction, and increase in troponin. Subclinical cardiac toxicity was defined as cardiac dysfunction associated with ICI treatment, with absent or delayed ICI-associated cardiotoxicity clinical symptoms.

Results: Compared with baseline, the LVGLS, TAPSE, and RVGLS significantly deteriorated after ICI treatment [(-18.63 ± 2.53)% vs. (-17.35 ± 2.58)%, P = 0.000; 18.29 ± 6.23 vs. 14.57 ± 3.81, P = 0.0001; and (-18.45 ± 4.65)% vs. (-14.98 ± 3.85)%, P = 0.0001, respectively]. LVGLS (-17.35 ± 2.58, P = 0.000), TAPSE (14.57 ± 3.81, P = 0.0001), and RVGLS [(-14.98 ± 3.85)%, P = 0.0001] were decreased after ICI immunotherapy. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis showed that LVGLS was more sensitive than the cardiac toxicity events to assess ICI-related subclinical cardiac dysfunction (log-rank P = 0.205). The ROC curve showed that the cutoff value of ΔLVGLS was -13%.

Conclusion: Subclinical cardiac dysfunction can be detected using two-dimensional speckle-tracking imaging. LVGLS, RVGLS, and TAPSE are more sensitive indices for detection.

Clinical trial registration: [https://www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=27498], identifier [ChiCTR1800016216].

Keywords: ICIs; TAPSE; echocardiography; strain; subclinical cardiotoxicity.