Systolic time intervals in monitoring for anthracycline cardiomyopathy in pediatric patients.

Systolic time intervals are of value in measuring left ventricular function. The ratio of the pre-ejection period to the left ventricular ejection time (PEP/LVET) was determined serially in 60 children with cancer receiving anthracycline drugs. Measurements were examined for their predictive value in determining incipient anthracycline cardiomyopathy. An increase in the PEP/LVET ratio was not followed by clinical failure in the majority of patients. Of two patients who developed presumed anthracycline cardiomyopathy, only one demonstrated an increase in the ratio prior to going into heart failure. The value of the PEP/LVET ratio in children for predicting anthracycline cardiomyopathy appears limited, based on the results of this study.