ABSTRACT
Two cases of anthracycline-induced congestive heart failure are described. Serial assessment of cardiac function during treatment showed early deterioration of the systolic time intervals of the left ventricle (LSTI) before congestive cardiomyopathy could be demonstrated by echocardiography. We recommend that the cardiac function should be assessed regularly during anthracycline therapy by systolic time intervals and echocardiography to reveal early signs of cardiotoxic effect and that anthracycline therapy should be stopped when LSTI is 0.45 or when it has increased more than 50% compared to pretreatment values.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects , Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/chemically induced , Heart Failure/chemically induced , Antibiotics, Antineoplastic , Child , Echocardiography , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Naphthacenes/adverse effects , Systole/drug effectsABSTRACT
Two families are presented, where the mothers have given birth to children with neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (NAITP) due to immunization towards the platelet specific antigen PIA1, which is responsible for most of the cases with NAITP. Anti-PIA1 has previously been difficult to demonstrate, but current techniques, such as the platelet suspension immunofluorescence test (PSIFT) used here, have made routine laboratory diagnosis possible. Both mothers in these families were HLA-B8 positive. This antigen shows strong association with PIA1 immunization.
