Clinical heart failure during pregnancy and delivery in a cohort of female childhood cancer survivors treated with anthracyclines

Eur J Cancer. 2006 Oct;42(15):2549-53. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2006.04.014. Epub 2006 Aug 17.

Abstract

The cumulative incidence of peripartum anthracycline-induced clinical heart failure (A-CHF) was evaluated in a cohort of 53 childhood cancer survivors who had delivered one or more children. None of them developed peripartum A-CHF (cumulative incidence 0%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0-5.7%). The mean follow-up time after the first administration of anthracycline therapy was 20.3 years. They received a mean cumulative anthracycline dose of 267 mg/m2. It is worth noticing that even 2 patients with A-CHF before pregnancy did not develop peripartum A-CHF. Since there were no cases of peripartum A-CHF in our cohort, it was not possible to evaluate associated risk factors. In conclusion, this study demonstrates a low risk of developing peripartum A-CHF in childhood cancer survivors. However, more cohort studies with adequate power and long-term follow-up are needed to reliably evaluate the cumulative incidence of peripartum anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (both clinical and asymptomatic) and associated risk factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anthracyclines / adverse effects*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / chemically induced*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / chemically induced*
  • Risk Factors
  • Survivors*

Substances

  • Anthracyclines