Echocardiographic evaluation of cardiotoxicity induced by anthracycline therapy
Okada, Y.; Horikawa, K.; Sano, M.
Gan to Kagaku Ryoho. Cancer and ChemoTherapy 24(5): 585-589
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0385-0684 PMID: 9087292 Document Number: 473764
Echocardiographic reports on 144 adults receiving anthracycline therapy and 18 controls were reviewed for the possible relationship between dosage and ejection fractions. The cardiotoxicity of each anthracycline drug was evaluated as follows: Pirarubicin = 0.8, Mitoxantrone = 3.4, Daunorubicin = 0.5, Aclarubicin = 0, and Epirubicin = 0.6 with Doxorubicin = 1 as a control. As a whole, the ejection fractions, which decreased subsequently compared with increasing amount of dosage, showed a remarkable decrease at the dosage level of 600 mg/m2. However, the ejection fractions differed among individual patients. It was predicted that heart failure would not develop when the ejection fractions exceeded 55%. It is desirable to stop anthracycline therapy when the ejection fractions drop to 55%.