Impact of persistent left ventricular regional wall motion abnormalities in childhood cancer survivors after anthracycline therapy: Assessment of global left ventricular myocardial performance by 3D speckle-tracking echocardiography.

AIMS

To identify left ventricular (LV) mechanical impairment by 3D speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE) in long-term childhood cancer survivors after anthracycline therapy with or without persistent LV regional diastolic wall motion abnormalities (WMA) and a preserved LV ejection fraction (EF >53%).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Thirty-two patients (median: 14.6 years) and 12 age-matched controls were studied. The patients were divided into two groups according to the existence of WMA: Group 1 (with WMA: n=14), Group 2 (without WMA: n=18). 3DSTE was performed to assess LV global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), global radial strain (GRS), global area strain (GAS), LV torsion, LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), and LV end-systolic volume (LVESV). LV systolic dyssynchrony index (SDI) was calculated as the percentage of the standard deviation of time to peak strain of the 16 segments divided by the RR interval. There was no significant difference in LVEDV, LVESV, GLS, torsion, or SDI derived from LS, CS, or AS among the 3 groups. In contrast, there were significant differences in GRS, GCS, and GAS, and SDI derived from RS among the 3 groups. Compared with group 2, group 1 had significantly reduced GRS (p<0.001), GCS (p<0.01), GAS (p<0.01), and greater SDI derived from GRS (p<0.01). Moreover, the existence of WMA was correlated with GRS (p<0.001), SDI derived from GRS (p<0.001), and LVEF (p=0.036). Multiple linear regression analysis identified GRS as a significant determinant of the existence of WMA (β=0.751, p=0.001).

CONCLUSION

Childhood cancer survivors with persistent LV regional WMA show a reduced LV myocardial performance compared with those without WMA, despite a preserved LVEF.