Left Atrial Strain changes in patients with breast cancer during anthracycline therapy

Cardiotoxicity has become a significant adverse effect of cancer therapy, with Anthracyclines (ANT) in particular. There is a crucial need for new imaging techniques for the early subclinical detection of cardiotoxic effect. We aimed to evaluate left atrial strain (LAS) changes during ANT therapy and to assess the correlation between LAS and the routine echocardiographic diastolic parameters.

Data were prospectively collected as part of the Israel Cardio-Oncology Registry (ICOR). All female patients with breast cancer, planned for ANT therapy were included. All patients underwent serial echocardiography exams including baseline LAS (before chemotherapy, T1) and shortly after the completion of ANT therapy (T3). LAS was assessed in 3 phases: Reservoir (LASr), Conduit (LASc) and Pump (LASp). Significant reduction in LASr was determined by either a relative reduction of >10% or an absolute value of <35%. From September 2016 to June 2019, 40 patients were evaluated with a mean Doxorubicin (type of ANT) dose of 237±13.24mg/m2. At T3, significant reduction in LASr was observed among 50% of the patients with a mean LASr reduction from 40.15 ± 6.83% to 36.04 ± 7.73% (p < 0.001). LASc showed significant reduction as well (p < 0.004) as opposed to LASp (p=0.076). Both LASr and LASc showed significant correlation to the routine diastolic parameters.

LASr and LASc reduction are frequent and occur early in the course of ANT therapy, showing significant correlation to the routine echocardiographic diastolic parameters, which may imply a role in the detection of early cardiotoxicity.