Neuere Methoden in der Früherkennung einer durch Adriamycin induzierten Kardiomyopathie

Abstract

The cytostatic drug Adriamycin can, when given in overdose, cause a congestive (dilative) cardiomyopathy. In 120 patients, chest X-ray and ECG proved unsuitable for the early detection of this cardiomyopathy. However, a relatively early diagnosis of a cardiomyopathy can be made using echocardiography, radiocardiography, including determination of the minimal cardiac transit time, and through the determination of systolic time intervals. Especially the latter method represents a simple, economic, and yet exact means for the early recognition of Adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy.