Pregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy in survivors of childhood cancer

PURPOSE: Current information regarding pregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy among women treated for childhood cancer is insufficient to appropriately guide counseling and patient management. This study aims to characterize its prevalence within a large cohort of females exposed to cardiotoxic therapy. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of female cancer survivors treated at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital between 1963 and 2006, at least 5 years from diagnosis, ≥ 13 years old at last follow-up, and with at least one successful pregnancy. Pregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy was defined as shortening fraction < 28% or ejection fraction < 50% or treatment for cardiomyopathy during or up to 5 months after completion of pregnancy. RESULTS: Among 847 female cancer survivors with 1554 completed pregnancies only 3 (0.3%) developed pregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy, 40 developed non-pregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy either 5 months post-partum (n=14), or prior to pregnancy (n=26). Among those with cardiomyopathy prior to pregnancy (n=26), cardiac function deteriorated during pregnancy in 8 patients (3 patients with normalization of cardiac function prior to pregnancy, 3 with persistently abnormal cardiac function, and 2 for whom resolution of cardiomyopathy was unknown prior to pregnancy). Patients that developed cardiomyopathy recevied a higher median dose of anthracyclines compared to those that did not (321 mg/m(2) versus 164 mg/m(2); p< 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy in childhood cancer survivors is rare. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Most female childhood cancer survivors will have no cardiac complications during or after childbirth, however those with a history of cardiotoxic therapies should be followed carefully during pregnancy particularly those with a history of anthracycline exposures and if they had documented previous or current subclinical or symptomatic cardiomyopathy. Female childhood cancer survivors with a history of cardiotoxic therapies should be followed carefully during pregnancy particularly those with a history of anthracycline exposures and if they had documented previous or current subclinical or symptomatic cardiomyopathy

Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity: A Review of Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

Anthracyclines have been widely used in children and adults to treat hematologic malignancies, soft-tissue sarcomas, and solid tumors. However, anthracyclines come with both short- and long-term cardiotoxic effects, ranging from occult changes in myocardial structure and function to severe cardiomyopathy and heart failure that may result in cardiac transplantation or death. Here, we review the progress made over the past two decades in understanding the molecular and genetic basis of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity; detecting and monitoring myocardial dysfunction; using adjunct cardioprotectant therapies, such as dexrazoxane; and improving cardioprotection with agents such as liposomal and pegylated doxorubicin. Despite this increased understanding, preventing drug-induced cardiotoxicity while maintaining oncologic efficacy to achieve the highest quality of life over a lifespan remain cornerstones of successful anthracycline chemotherapy during childhood

Treatment-related cardiotoxicity in survivors of childhood cancer

Treatment advances and higher participation rates in clinical trials have rapidly increased the number of survivors of childhood cancer. However, chemotherapy and radiation treatments are cardiotoxic and can cause cardiomyopathy, conduction defects, myocardial infarction, hypertension, stroke, pulmonary oedema, dyspnoea and exercise intolerance later in life. These cardiotoxic effects are often progressive and irreversible, emphasizing a need for effective prevention and treatment to reduce or avoid cardiotoxicity. Medical interventions, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, β-blockers, and growth hormone therapy, might be used to treat cardiotoxicity in childhood cancer survivors. Preventative strategies should include the use of dexrazoxane, which provides cardioprotection without reducing the oncological efficacy of doxorubicin chemotherapy; less-toxic anthracycline derivatives and the use of antioxidant nutritional supplements might also be beneficial. Continuous-infusion doxorubicin provides no benefit over bolus infusion in children. Identifying patient-related (for example, obesity and hypertension) and drug-related (for example, cumulative dose) risk factors for cardiotoxicity could help tailor treatments to individual patients. However, all survivors of childhood cancer are at increased risk of cardiotoxicity, suggesting that survivor screening recommendations for assessment of global risk of premature cardiovascular disease should apply to all survivors. Optimal, evidence-based monitoring strategies and multiagent preventative treatments still need to be identified