Treatment with trastuzumab and cardiotoxicity: what changes are observed in echocardiography?
L Villafafila, J Ramon-Ensenat, E Garcia-Camacho, A Cabello-Rodriguez, P Valle-Tabernero, A Aguinaga-Mendibil, N Navarro-Pelegrini, J M Martinez-Palomares, J Cuesta-Domingo, E Garcia-Losana, N Velasco-Pascual, I Torres-Chilleron, G Galeote-Escalera, G Rivera-Saltos, L Rodriguez-PadialAbstract
Introduction
Anti-HER2 therapies are used, among other treatments, for breast cancer when these markers are expressed. One of their adverse effects is cardiotoxicity, which, unlike the one caused by anthracyclines, is reversible with the suspension of the treatment.
Purpose
The objective of this study is to assess the variation of echocardiographic parameters and the development of heart failure in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment with trastuzumab.
Methods
A sample of 77 breast cancer patients receiving trastuzumab was studied, with their baseline echocardiographic values and subsequent measurements taken every 3 months up to one year of treatment.
Results
None of the patients developed heart failure. Between baseline and 12 months, the left ventricular end-diastolic diameter changed by 3.5 points (p 0.08). No differences were observed in the size of the right ventricle or in the left ventricular ejection fraction during follow-up. Statistically significant changes were not observed in the left ventricular GLS, although it tended to decrease over the follow-up period.
Conclusion
During the first year of trastuzumab treatment, an increase in left ventricular size was observed, with no significant changes in its function. Left ventricular GLS tends to decrease. A larger sample size would be needed for further investigation.