Detection of right ventricular dysfunction by three - dimensional echocardiography and two-dimensional speckle tracking in breast cancer patients receiving anthracycline- based chemotherapy

BackgroundDespite the cardiotoxic effect of anthracycline on the left ventricle (LV) was totally identified. The assessment of the anthracycline effect on the right ventricle(RV) by conventional echocardiography was a challenge due to its complex geometry. We aimed to evaluate the impact of anthracycline on the RV volume and function using 3 dimensional -echocardiography (3DE) and 2 dimensional -speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) in patients with breast cancer.MethodsThis prospective study was conducted on 66 female patients with breast cancer receiving anthracycline chemotherapy, in addition to full echocardiography, 2D-STE and 3DE evaluation of RV function and volume were done at baseline, after 4th cycle of chemotherapy, six and nine months after the end of chemotherapy.ResultsCardiotoxicity from anthracycline occurred in 18 patients whose LV ejection fraction became significantly reduced after 9 months of therapy according to that, the patients were divided into the non-cardiotoxic group (n:48) and the cardiotoxic group (n:18). At cardiotoxic group, 3D RV end-systolic volume, and 3D RV end-diastolic volume increased significantly at 6 months and continued till 9 months after the therapy end compared to baseline values (42.50 +/- 5.98 vs. 50.44 +/- 7.01, p = 0.005) and (86.78 +/- 9.16 vs. 95.78 +/- 9.23, p = 0.021).LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) showed a significant reduction early after 6 months of therapy, 2D GLS and free wall longitudinal strain (FWLS) of RV were significantly decreased at 6 months and continued till 9 months after therapy (-22.54 +/- 0.79 vs. -19.53 +/- 1.32, p = 0.001) and (-24.67 +/- 1.27vs. -22.22 +/- 1.41, p = 0.001) respectively. The variation of RV FWLS was a predictor of cardiotoxicity, the relative drop of RV FWLS > 19.3% had 83% sensitivity and 71% specificity, (AUC = 0.82) to identify patients who developed cardiotoxicity.Conclusion3DE is a promising modality in recognizing the early changes in RV volumes and minute alteration in RV function and 2D-STE is a reliable predictor of RV systolic dysfunction which identify the subclinical affliction.