To assess myocardial damage in cancer patients undergoing treatment using late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) cardiac MRI and to explore its influence on left ventricular (LV) performance, alongside other clinical variables.
Key Findings:
LVEF and peak strain were significantly reduced in LGE-positive patients compared to LGE-negative patients (p < 0.05).
Moderate to strong correlations were found between various strain metrics and LVEF in cancer patients (r = 0.54 to r = 0.82; p < 0.001).
Independent relationships were identified between cardiac biomarkers (NT-pro BNP, troponin T) and strain metrics.
Interpretation:
LGE is a significant risk factor for LV dysfunction in cancer patients, with reduced circumferential strain being a primary mechanism for this dysfunction, potentially leading to clinical heart failure.
Limitations:
Retrospective study design may introduce bias, affecting the reliability of the findings.
Exclusion of patients with pre-existing heart conditions limits generalizability to the broader cancer patient population.
Conclusion:
LGE cardiac MRI is a valuable tool for identifying myocardial damage in cancer patients, highlighting the need for monitoring and potential cardioprotective strategies.
