The effects of low‐dose anthracycline‐based chemotherapy on the levels of serum NT‐proBNP level and left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunctions: A prospective observational study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum N‐terminal (NT)‐pro‐brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels and incidence of left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic dysfunction in patients who underwent low‐dose anthracycline chemotherapy. METHODS: This observational, prospective study was conducted on all patients with proven breast cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, or non‐Hodgkin lymphoma and no history of previous cardiac or any chronic diseases who were candidates for low‐dose anthracycline chemotherapy from March 2017 to February 2018. We evaluated the serum NT‐proBNP level and performed trans‐thoracic echocardiography at baseline, 6, and 9 months after the chemotherapy. RESULTS: Among 57 patients who successfully finished the study, 13 (22.8%) patients were men and 44 (77.19%) patients were women, and the total mean age was 52 ± 14.86 years. Our results revealed that the LV systolic and diastolic function and NT‐proBNP mean levels were in the normal range at all three measured times. Additionally, no significant differences were observed between the levels of NT‐proBNP, LV systolic, and diastolic function at baseline, 6, and 9 months after chemotherapy with low‐dose anthracycline (p = 0.6, 0.1, and 0.4, respectively). CONCLUSION: Following low‐dose anthracycline chemotherapy, none of our patients encountered LV systolic and diastolic dysfunctions and changes in serum NT‐proBNP level. However, further studies with a larger population, longer follow‐up duration, and higher dosage of anthracyclines are required to determine the effects of low‐dose anthracycline on NT‐proBNP level and LV systolic and diastolic functions.