Management of asymptomatic anthracycline-induced cardiac damage after treatment for childhood cancer: a postal survey among Dutch adult and pediatric cardiologists

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2005 Jun;27(6):319-22. doi: 10.1097/01.mph.0000170887.27958.27.

Abstract

Asymptomatic anthracycline-induced cardiac damage (A-CD) is a serious problem among young childhood cancer survivors. The aim of this survey was to assess the current treatment policy in these patients in the Netherlands. A questionnaire was sent to all 136 departments of adult or pediatric cardiology in the Netherlands. It was returned by 61% of the departments. Sixty-six percent of the respondents started medical treatment (ie, an ACE inhibitor and/or a beta-blocker) in childhood cancer survivors with asymptomatic A-CD. Fifty-eight percent of the respondents indicated that their treatment decision was based on published findings in the literature, but none of them referred to studies evaluating the treatment of asymptomatic A-CD. A majority of adult and pediatric cardiologists started medical treatment in childhood cancer survivors with asymptomatic A-CD without knowledge of the benefits and risks of treatment in this patient group. Before ACE inhibitors and/or beta-blockers can be recommended as routine practice in childhood cancer survivors with asymptomatic A-CD, randomized controlled trials should be performed. Until then, the authors recommend centralizing the treatment of childhood cancer survivors with asymptomatic A-CD in a specialized center to cluster the available knowledge and experience.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Anthracyclines / adverse effects*
  • Child
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Heart / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Medicine
  • Myocardium / pathology*
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Netherlands
  • Postal Service
  • Specialization
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Anthracyclines