Long-term cardiac effects of treatment for childhood leukemia

Rok, strany: 2010, 179 - 183

Late cardiac complications in cancer survivors may develop from subclinical myocardial damage. Biochemical correlates of minimal myocardial changes can be analyzed using a commercially available rapid assay. Biomarkers are considered more sensitive markers of subclinical cardiotoxicity than conventional electrocardiographic and echocardiographic methods.<br />The aim of this study was to determine the values of plasma N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) and cardiac troponin T (cTnT) in asymptomatic childhood leukemia survivors after anthracycline therapy in comparison with healthy volunteers. The survivors also underwent a detailed echocardiography. <br />Twenty six survivors of leukemia previously treated with anthracyclines with total cumulative dose 95-600 (median 221) mg/m2 were evaluated. Analyses of cTnT and NT-proBNP from blood samples and echocardiography were performed 5–25 years after completion of therapy for childhood leukemia. Control group for biochemical analyses consisted of 22 age- and gender- matched apparently healthy volunteers.<br />Values of NT-proBNP were significantly elevated in ANT group compared to controls (35.1 ± 37.8 vs. 9.6 ± 6.7 pg/ml, P<0.010). CTnT remained below the diagnostic cut-off values in both groups. All echocardiographic parameters of patients remained normal.<br />In conclusion, differences in NT-proBNP values between patients treated with anthracyclines and healthy volunteers might signal an initial stage of anthracycline-induced myocardial damage. The potential of this biomarker to detect subclinical anthracycline-induced myocardial alterations before development of echocardiographic and clinical changes is promising. Keywords:

ISO 690:

Urbanova, D., Urban, L., Simkova, I., Danova, K., Mikuskova, E., Mladosievicova, B. 2010. Long-term cardiac effects of treatment for childhood leukemia. In NEOPLASMA, vol. 57, no.2, pp. 179-183. 0028-2685.

APA:

Urbanova, D., Urban, L., Simkova, I., Danova, K., Mikuskova, E., Mladosievicova, B. (2010). Long-term cardiac effects of treatment for childhood leukemia. NEOPLASMA, 57(2), 179-183. 0028-2685.