Effect of carvedilol on echocardiographic ejection fraction and fraction shortening in doxorubicin treated females with breast cancer

الملخص

Background : Doxorubicin based regimen is the most common treatment of breast cancer which is highly complicated by cardiotoxicity.
Aim : To clarify the possible effects of carvedilol on echocardiographic ejection fraction and fraction shortening in doxorubicin based regimen in females with breast cancer.
Patients and Methods : A total of 16 females with breast cancer were included in this study. The patients were randomized into 2 groups , 8 patients each. Group I included patients were treated with doxorubicin based regimen for 6 cycles with 21 day apart. Group II included patients were received doxorubicin based regimen with carvedilol 3.125 mg , orally , twice daily for 5 days , for 6 cycles. Echocardiography was done to measure ejection fraction and fraction shortening at zero time and 3 days after 2nd , 4th and 6th cycles.
Results: Treatment with CAF regimen caused highly significant decrease in echocardiographic ejection fraction and fraction shortening after 2nd , 4th and 6th cycles in comparison to baseline readings ( P < 0.01 ). Combined CAF + Carvedilol 3.125 mg orally twice daily for 5 days caused highly significant increment in echocardiographic ejection fraction and fraction shortening compared with that of CAF regimen group ( P < 0.01 ).
Conclusion: Carvedilol causes significant increase in echocardiographic ejection fraction and fraction shortening in doxorubicin treated patients.