Prospective assessment of cardiotoxicity in patients receiving antineoplastic chemotherapy by using serological and non-invasive methods

Aim: The aim of this study is evaluating cardiotoxic effects of anthracyclines and trastuzumab in breast cancer patients. Ecocardiography and cardiac bio-markers are used to identifying cardiotoxicity. Method: The study included 43 breast cancer patients using anthracycline and trastuzumab therapy. Evaluations are performed in patients before treatment, after first and fourth anthracycline therapy and sixth months under therapy. İn each evaluation ecocardiography were performed in all patients and blood samples were taken from all patients. Results: The median age was 52,72 years (27-76). Cardiotoxicity was observed in 8 (18,6) patients. At the and of the study we found that, there is a significant decrease in average rate of EF, E' mitral lateral anulus, E' mitral septum E'/A' mitral septum value; and significant increase in mean E/E' mitral value. hsTn-T levels of patients were significantly increased. İn adition the increases of the pro-BNP and hsTn-T after first anthracycline therapy predicts cardiotoxicity. Conclusion: The follow-up of cardiotoxicity in patients who are taking anthracyclines and trastuzumab therapy musn't be limited with conventional ecocardiography. Using conventional ecocardiography and tissue doppler ecocardiography together is more advantageous for detecting cardiotoxicity. Also proBNP and hsTn-T levels are seems to be an early sensitive marker of cardiac dysfunction in subacute phase. Key Words: Anthracycline cardiotoxicity, hsTn-T, pro-BNP.