Ultrasound Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Ultrasound, including details on screening, diagnosis, pregnancy, detection.

Evaluation of left ventricular function in long-term survivors of childhood Hodgkin disease.

Iarussi D, Pisacane C, Indolfi P, Casale F, Martino V, Di Tullio MT

Cattedra di Cardiologia, Dipartimento di Scienze Cardio-Chirurgiche, Toraciche e Respiratorie, Seconda Università di Napoli. dianal.iarussi@unina2.it

BACKGROUND: Data on the presence of myocardial abnormalities in long-term Hodgkin disease survivors are contradictory. The purpose of this study was to determine if myocardial performance index (MPI) was capable of discovering cardiac abnormalities. PROCEDURE: Echocardiographic evaluation was performed in 31 survivors of Hodgkin disease (mean age 17.0 years), who received doxorubicin as part of chemotherapeutic treatment (median dose 164.8 +/- 42.5 mg/m(2)). Control group comprised 22 healthy subjects (mean age 16.7 years). RESULTS: Peak A velocity was increased (P = 0.004) and peak E/A velocity ratio was lower (P = 0.002) in patients compared to controls. Mean isovolumetric contraction time was longer in patients than in controls (P = 0.0001). Ejection time was significantly shorter in patients than in the controls (P = 0.001). Consequently, the MPI was significantly greater in the patients than in the controls (P = 0.0001). Abnormal MPI was found in 25/31 patients (83%). CONCLUSIONS: The Doppler-derived index of combined systolic and diastolic myocardial performance demonstrates the presence of subtle cardiac abnormalities in the majority of Hodgkin disease survivors.

Published 1 September 2005 in Pediatr Blood Cancer, 45(5): 700-5.
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