Clin Pediatr Hematol Oncol.  2014 Oct;21(2):121-127. 10.15264/cpho.2014.21.2.121.

Evaluation of Cardiac Function in Children with Solid Tumors, who Underwent Tandem High-Dose Chemotherapy and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

• Kim YS
• Song J
• Sung KW
• Lee SH
• Yoo KH
• Huh J
• Kang IS
• Koo HH

• KMID: 2279821
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15264/cpho.2014.21.2.121

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Even though the five year survival rate and prognosis of childhood solid tumors have been improved through the introduction of dose-escalation using tandem high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDCT/auto-SCT), changes in cardiac function have not yet been studied. We therefore evaluated cardiac function after tandem HDCT/auto-SCT.
METHODS
This study retrospectively analyzed 56 pediatric patients who were diagnosed with solid tumors and who underwent tandem HDCT/auto-SCT at Samsung Medical Center. We investigated the cardiac function of these patients using echocardiography to evaluate the parameters of the left ventricular ejection fraction, e/e', and left ventricular Tei index.
RESULTS
The mean left ventricular ejection fraction, e/e', and left ventricular Tei index at one year after the second HDCT/auto-SCT were 65.7%, 0.32, and 8.6, respectively. When compared those with before the first tandem HDCT/auto-SCT, there were no significant negative changes. We evaluated the changes in cardiac function in different subgroups, based on doxorubicin, radiotherapy involving heart, and the age of the patient at diagnosis. There were no significant changes of cardiac function after the treatment in any of the subgroups. Clinical heart failure did not develop in any of the patients.
CONCLUSION
This study showed no significant negative changes in cardiac function at one year after tandem HDCT/auto-SCT. However, long-term follow-up studies of cardiac function in survivors and further studies of cardiac function are needed.

Keyword

High-dose chemotherapy; Autologous; Stem cell transplantation; Cardiac function; Echocardiography

MeSH Terms

Child*
Diagnosis
Doxorubicin
Drug Therapy*
Echocardiography
Follow-Up Studies
Heart
Heart Failure
Humans
Prognosis
Radiotherapy
Retrospective Studies
Stem Cell Transplantation*
Stroke Volume
Survival Rate
Survivors
Doxorubicin