Diastolic strain time as predictor for systolic dysfunction among
patients with active breast cancer
Abstract
Background: Although diastolic dysfunction is common among patients
treated with cancer therapy, no clear evidence has been shown that it
predicts systolic dysfunction. This study evaluated the correlation of
longitudinal diastolic strain time (Dst) with the routine
echocardiography diastolic parameters and to estimated its role in the
early detection of cardiotoxicity among patients with active breast
cancer. Methods: Data were collected as part of the Israel
Cardio-Oncology Registry (ICOR), a prospective registry enrolling all
adult patients referred to the cardio-oncology clinic. All patients with
breast cancer, planned for Doxorubicin therapy were included.
Echocardiography, including Global longitudinal systolic strain (GLS)
and Dst, was assessed at baseline before chemotherapy (T1), during
Doxorubicin therapy (T2) and after the completion of Doxorubicin therapy
(T3). Cardiotoxicity were determined by GLS relative reduction of ≥15%.
Dst was assessed as the time measured (ms) of the myocardium lengthening
during diastole. =diastolic time (ms) measured. Results: Among 69
patients, 67 (97.1%) were females with a mean age 52±13years. Diastolic
strain timeDst measurement was significantly associated with the
standard routine diastolic parameters. Significant GLS reduction was
observed in 10 (20%) patients at T3 . Both in a univariate and a
multivariate analyses the change in Ds basal time from T1 to T2 emerged
to be significantly associated with GLS reduction at T3
(p<0.04). Conclusions: Among breast cancer patients, Dst time
showed high correlation to standard the routine diastolic
echocardiography parameters. Relative reductionChange in Ds basal time
emerged associated with clinically significant systolic dysfunction as
measured by GLS reduction.