P790 Bi-ventricular dysfunction in patients after bone marrow transplant: the value of strain imaging

Abstract

Background Cardiovascular events are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer survivors, particularly occurring at 5-10 years after their cancer therapy. Purpose To assess the utility of strain imaging by 2-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking echocardiography in detecting bi-ventricular dysfunction, as compared to traditional measures, in patients post bone marrow transplantation (BMT) with previous anthracycline (AC) therapy for haematological conditions. Methods 50 consecutive patients post BMT + AC, reviewed at a long-term survivor clinic, were compared to 50 age and gender matched controls. 48/50 patients received AC doses below the recommended cumulative lifetime thresholds set by the European Society of Medical Oncology. 2D left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV GLS) and right ventricle free wall strain (RV FWS) were compared to conventional measures of bi-ventricular function. Results The mean LVEF (58 ± 6% vs 63 ± 6%) and RV fractional area change (FAC) (39 ± 5% vs 44 ± 5%), although reduced in the BMT + AC group vs controls, were within normal limits. LV GLS was reduced in BMT + AC patients as compared to controls (-17.8 ± 3.1% vs -20.5 ± 2.2%, p < 0.01) while RV FWS was also reduced (-23.2 ± 4.0% vs -27.9 ± 2.7%, p < 0.001). In BMT + AC patients with a preserved LVEF (LVEF > 53%), 28% (11/40) had reduced GLS (GLS < -17%) while 52% (24/46) of those with preserved FAC (FAC > 35%) had reduced FWS (FWS < -25%). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) occurred in 9/50 patients in the BMT + AC group and none in the control group. 8/9 patients had normal biventricular function as assessed by traditional parameters (LVEF and RV FAC) but 5/9 patients had reduced LV GLS and/or RV FWS. Conclusions Subclinical bi-ventricular dysfunction is common in patients post BMT + AC therapy, and can be detected using strain analysis, despite preserved LV and RV systolic function using conventional measures. MACE occurred at a significantly higher rate in BMT patients exposed to AC. More than half of MACE events occurred in patients with reduced LV or RV strain, with preserved bi-ventricular function by traditional measures. LV GLS and RV FWS should be utilised for early identification of subclinical dysfunction in BMT patients.