Applications of left ventricular strain measurements to patients undergoing chemotherapy
Abstract
We aim to summarize the utility of strain in monitoring the effects of cancer therapy-related cardiotoxicity (CTRC) on the development of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Serial assessment of cardiac function at baseline and during treatment is recommended in patients undergoing cancer treatment. Historically, the use of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) has been used to monitor for cardiac toxicity from cancer therapies but myocardial mechanic parameters, in particular global longitudinal strain (GLS), have emerged as powerful adjunctive tools. On the basis of longitudinal cohort studies in patients treated with anthracyclines and trastuzumab and retrospective studies of childhood survivors of cancers, strain has been used to detect subclinical LV dysfunction prior to changes in LVEF. Strain parameters decrease during both anthracycline and trastuzumab and these changes can persist after completion of therapy. Baseline GLS and changes in GLS during therapy can be independently prognostic for developing CTRC. Further, GLS has appeared to have an additive predictive value in addition to the traditional clinical parameters and baseline LVEF in the development of cardiotoxicity. The inclusion of strain parameters in clin...Continue Reading
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Cardiotoxicity
Cardiotoxicity refers to the muscle damage or dysfunction of heart electrophysiology caused by drug intake or due to disease complications. It is a well-known side effect of several cytotoxic drugs, especially of the anthracyclines and can lead to long term morbidity. Here is the latest research.