CARDIAC DIASTOLIC FUNCTION IN PEDIATRIC-PATIENTS RECEIVING DOXORUBICIN

The purpose of the study was to compare systolic and diastolic functio n in pediatric patients treated with doxorubicin. Left ventricular fun ction was evaluated in 61 children prior to and following chemotherapy . None had clinical evidence of cardiac decompensation prior to treatm ent. All received relatively low cumulative doses of doxorubicin; the majority received the drug by continuous infusion. Systolic function w as estimated using fractional shortening; diastolic function was estim ated using A wave velocity, E wave velocity, E to A ratio, and deceler ation time. There was a small but significant decline in systolic card iac function as estimated from changes in fractional shortening that c ould not be appreciated in any of the measured parameters of diastolic function. A variety of reasons that could be responsible for the abse nce of significant changes in diastolic function are discussed. For th e present, estimations of systolic function are preferred over the stu died parameters of diastolic function in the evaluation of cardiac sta tus in pediatric patients receiving doxorubicin containing regimens.