Echocardiography in adriamycin cardiotoxicity.

Twenty-six patients receiving adriamycin for osteogenic sarcoma had serial echocardiographic assessments of their left ventricular function. A statistically significant deterioration of function was noted throughout the course. Ventricular function tended to normalize in the period following cessation of adriamycin. The velocity of circumferential fibre shortening (Vcf) and ejection fraction (EF) were the best parameters. Sudden declines in these values resulted in us withholding therapy until the parameters again improved. Fatal congestive heart failure was seen in only one patient. Echocardiography thus provides the clinician with a valuable tool enabling one to improve the therapeutic usefulness of adriamycin by removing much of the uncertainty over the development of cardiotoxicity.