[Noninvasive cardia fúnction diagnosis in children treated with adriamycin (author's transl)].

X-rays, ECGs and echocardiograms of 35 children under Adriamycin (ADM)-treatment were evaluated. ECG voltage and cardiothoracic ratio showed no correlation to ADM-dose, whereas the mean LPEP/LVET quotient increased, mean shortening fraction and peak Vcf decreased with increasing ADM-dose. Only one child, receiving a total dose of 420 mg/m2, got a cardiomyopathy. Before clinical manifestation of congestive heart failure it showed a 30% decrease of QRS-voltage, an increased LPEP/LVET quotient and a decreased SF and peak Vcf. Single pathological parameters were found in other children, too: 6 children showed more than 30% decrease of QRS-voltage, 13 children increased LPEP/LVET quotients, 10 children a reduced SF and 5 children reduced peak Vcf. In spite of the anomalous parameters ADM-treatment was continued. No child developed a cardiomyopathy, Obviously none of these single parameters allows a reliable early detection of ADM-cardiomyopathy, whereas simultaneous evaluation of different parameters improves the reliability of prognosis.