Abstract
Background: breast cancer because of radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy causes cardiac disease, often it occurs on women just affected by hypertension and/or diabetes. All these conditions may affect left ventricular (LV) geometry, mass and diastolic function. The purpose of this study is to early detect these affections to improve heart failure prevention. Patients and methods: 134 women, affected by breast cancer, underwent to conventional transthoracic echocar-diography (TTE) and pulse wave tissue Doppler imaging (PW-TDI). A control group (CG) of 80 women unaffected by breast cancer, hypertension and diabetes was enrolled. Results: 54 of 134 women (40.2%), were affected by hypertension or diabetes too (Prone Group = PG), 8 by both, 80 (59.8%) were free (FG). Mean age of all patients was 45.4 years. The rates of LV eccentric hypertrophy and LV distolic dysfunction were statistically significant higher on FG group than controls, and on PG group than FG group. Conclusions: an abnormal LV diastolic function is more common among women affected by breast cancer after treatment than in general population, the same for LV eccentric hypertrophy but at a lower rate. 40% of women were affected by hypertension, diabetes or both, and as expected they have a higher rate of LV eccentric hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction. This high prevalence of LV eccentric hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction, on asymptomatic women, affected by breast cancer, is a predictor of heart failure; Doppler-echo techniques may be helpful in early diagnosis.
Highlights
Cancer treatment is a combination of surgery associated to chemotherapy [1] and radiotherapy [2] to prolong life duration and quality
Conclusions: an abnormal left ventricular (LV) diastolic function is more common among women affected by breast cancer after treatment than in general population, the same for LV eccentric hypertrophy but at a lower rate. 40% of women were affected by hypertension, diabetes or both, and as expected they have a higher rate of LV eccentric hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction
According to LV geometry, LV eccentric hypertrophy was present on 8 women of FG (10%), 18 of PG (33,4%), p < 0.01 and 2 of control group (CG) (2.5%), p < 0.006 vs FG and p < 0.01 vs CG; LV concentric hypertrophy was present on 2 women of FG (2.5%), 6 of PG (11.1%), p < 0.05 and none of CG; LV concentric remodeling, was present on 1 women of FG (1.2%), 3 of PG (5.5%), p < 0.003 and none of CG, Figure 1
Summary
Cancer treatment is a combination of surgery associated to chemotherapy [1] and radiotherapy [2] to prolong life duration and quality. This combination can cause cardiotoxicity, it can precociously on set and arise after many years from therapy interruption [3] Many different chemotherapeutic agents can determine cardiovascular complications such as heart failure for left ventricular function impairment, all kinds of coronary artery diseases and, at a lower rate, thromboembolism, and arrhythmias [4]. Other measurements of LV function (e.g., E/A ratio) have been used to detect early cardiotoxicity in addition to JCT
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
