Signal-averaged electrocardiography in survivors of Hodgkin's disease treated with and without dexrazoxane

Doxorubicin is one of the most effective anticancer drug, but its usefulnes s is limited by the risk of developing cardiomyopathy, cardiac dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmias. Dexrazoxane is used to protect against doxorub icin cardiotoxicity. It is uncertain whether the dexrazoxane-mediated cardi oprotective effect will be reflected in electrophysiological properties of the heart The aim of the present study was to evaluate the occurrence of frequency-do main signal-averaged electrocardiographic (SAECG) abnormalities of the QRS complex and the initial ST segment in patients treated with and without dex razoxane. Thirty children and young adults 2 months - 15 years after completion of do xorubicin-containing therapy for Hodgkin's disease were evaluated with SAEC G. Patients from group I (n = 13) received combined therapy with doxorubici n and dexrazoxane (DOX/DZX), patients from group II (n = 17) received doxor ubicin without dexrazoxane (DOX). Using fast Fourier transformation within the QRS complex and the initial ST segment, area ratio (AR) values 40-100/0 -40 Hz were calculated. Significant differences in these frequency parameters in the QRS complex be tween DOX/DZX group and DOX group (19.45 +/- 12.72 vs 46.18 +/- 43.06; p = 0.03) might indicate protective effect of dexrazoxane on electrophysiologic al myocardial properties.