Chemotherapeutic cardiotoxicity in patients with malignant hematological diseases in Sancti Spíritus, Cuba, Cuba

Abstract

Introduction: With the introduction of new drugs to conventional chemotherapy, the rates of cure and remission of malignant diseases have increased considerably. Simultaneously, a decrease in morbidity and mortality rates secondary to oncological and oncohematological diseases has been obtained and, therefore, a better prognosis. The survival of these patients can be, in many cases, long enough for cardiac side effects of the therapies used to be observed. In order to determine the incidence of cardiotoxicity, an observational, descriptive, longitudinal and prospective study was carried out. Material and methods: The sample consisted of the total number of patients who attended the "Camilo Cienfuegos" University Teaching Hospital in the province of Sancti Spíritus in Cuba during the period between July 2013 and February 2015 and who were diagnosed and treated for malignant hematological diseases. The variables studied were: age, sex, diagnosed pathology and chemotherapy protocol, in relation to the following echocardiographic variables: left ventricular ejection fraction, diastolic function, wall thickness, valve function and diameter of the cavities. Results and conclusions: It was found that the earliest and most frequent affectation was in the diastolic function, followed by the alterations of the decrease in the ventricular ejection fraction and the increase in the diameter of the cavities.