1-Year followup of cardiac status after Adriamycin therapy

To study the natural history of the alterations in cardiac function produced by Adriamycin therapy, serial M-mode echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, and systolic time intervals were obtained in 15 patients prior to Adriamycin therapy and at 3-month intervals during and 1 year after cessation of therapy. The echocardiographic E-point septal separation increased from a median 0 dose value of 0.40 cm to 0.70 cm (P<0.003) at the time of the maximum dose of Adriamycin. The electrocardiographic frontal plane voltage decreased 13% (P<0.008) and the pre-ejection period/left ventricular ejection time ratio increased from a median value of 0.37 to 0.40 (P<0.01) during this same period. During the first year after Adriamycin was discontinued, no significant change was noted in any of these values. Thus, as a group, the slight deterioration of ventricular function that occurred during Adriamycin therapy remained unimproved during the 1-year followup period.