01.02.2017 | Editorial
Anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy: The search continues
Erschienen in: Journal of Nuclear Cardiology | Ausgabe 1/2017
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Anthracyclines are not only some of the most effective, but also the most toxic, chemotherapeutic agents. Their use is associated with a dose-dependent, progressive, dilated cardiomyopathy. To date, there is no specific laboratory or imaging approach to proactively identify patients who will develop anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity. Echocardiography and radionuclide ventriculography have been employed to measure left ventricular ejection fraction as chemotherapy progresses, and once decreases in function are identified, chemotherapy dosage or frequency is modified, or the chemotherapy is stopped. Unfortunately, overt cardiomyopathy is a late manifestation of injury due to anthracyclines,1 and thus prediction of which patients may develop anthracycline-induced cardiac toxicity is an important goal, especially since these agents are frequently used in children and young adults. …Anzeige