Heart Failure in AML: New Evidence Emerges
A systematic review finds AML patients receiving anthracycline remission induction therapy face a significant heart failure risk, highlighting the need for enhanced cardiac monitoring.
A new study, led by Jesse Geels and colleagues from the Netherlands, systematically analyzed 41 studies covering 5,995 patients with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) treated with anthracycline-based regimens.
- The pooled proportion of heart failure among these patients was 3.2%.
- Important variation by the type of anthracycline used:
- 2.3% for daunorubicin
- 5.0% for idarubicin
- 10.2% for mitoxantrone
Secondary cardiovascular adverse events were also common but often underreported.
Anthracyclines have long been recognized for their effectiveness in achieving remission but are also notorious for dose-dependent cardiotoxicity, particularly in people with existing cardiovascular risk factors.
Author's summary: New evidence highlights heart failure risk in AML patients.