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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
In Vivo Quantitative Assessment of Myocardial Structure, Function, Perfusion and Viability Using Cardiac Micro-computed Tomography
Published on: February 16, 2016
The Tei index identifies a differential effect on left and right ventricular function with low-dose anthracycline
Mark Belham1, Anton Kruger, Colin Pritchard
1Department of Cardiology, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Cornwall, United Kingdom. markbelham@zoom.co.uk
Objective:
We sought to study the relative effect on left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function of low-dose anthracycline-containing chemotherapy regimes.
Methods:
A total of 23 patients (mean age 48 +/- 20 years) underwent echocardiographic examinations before any anthracycline had been administered and then after low-dose anthracycline (doxorubicin 50-125 mg/m2). The Tei index was used to compare the relative effects on RV and LV function.
Results:
Anthracycline administration was significantly associated with an increase in the LV Tei index (0.38 +/- 0.12 vs 0.46 +/- 0.16, P = .02). There was no significant change in the RV Tei index (0.19 +/- 0.10 vs 0.20 +/- 0.10, P = .72). Comparing the relative effect on global LV and RV function the change in LV Tei was significantly greater than the change in RV Tei (0.07 +/- 0.13 vs 0.01 +/- 0.09, P = .044).
Conclusions:
Low-dose anthracycline administration has a significant negative impact on LV function but does not affect RV function.
