Anthracycline Induced Cardiotoxicity - Early Detection by Combination of Diastolic Strain and T2-mapping
Anthracycline Induced Cardiotoxicity - Early Detection by Combination of Diastolic Strain and T2-mapping
Anthracyclines (e.g. Doxorubicin) are an important and highly effective chemotherapeutic.
 They are used in various tumor entities and are established for breast cancer treatment. The
 most significant prognostic side effect is cardiotoxicity, which occurs in up to 50 patients.
 Female gender must be considered an independent risk factor for the incidence and severity of
 associated heart failure. The aim of this study is to demonstrate that dose-dependent
 anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity has a measurable effect on T2 mapping on MRI. The second
 aim is to demonstrate if the combination of diastolic strain (echo and MRI) and T2 mapping
 can detect earlier anthracycline-induced myocardial damage than via the established method of
 the echocardiographic measurement of LV-EF and the conventional quantification of diastolic
 function.
In order to answer the question, patients with breast cancer, who will undergo a
 chemotherapeutic treatment with antracycline, will be examined before chemotherapy (including
 cmr and echocardiography) and after chemotherapy at different times within one year.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Planned therapy with an anthracycline and at least 1 year follow up

 -  >18 years of age

 -  written informed consent

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  prior cardiovascular disease

 -  diabetes mellitus

 -  previous therapy with anthracyclines