Heart Failure and Asymptomatic Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in Lymphoma Survivors Treated With Autologous Stem-Cell Transplantation: A National Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: We aimed to determine the prevalence of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), including symptomatic (ie, heart failure [HF]) and asymptomatic LVSD in adult lymphoma survivors (LSs) after autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (auto-HCT) and to identify risk factors for LVSD in this population.

Patients And Methods: All LSs treated with auto-HCT as adults in Norway from 1987 to 2008 were eligible for this national cross-sectional study. Asymptomatic LVSD was defined as left ventricular ejection fraction less than 50% by echocardiography, and HF was defined according to current recommendations. The results in LSs were compared with those found in an age- and sex-matched (1:1) control group.

Results: We examined 274 LSs (69% of all eligible survivors); 62% were men, the mean (± standard deviation) age was 56 ± 12 years, and mean follow-up time from lymphoma diagnosis was 13 ± 6 years. The mean cumulative doxorubicin dose was 316 ± 111 mg/m(2), and 35% of LSs had received additional radiation therapy involving the heart. We found LVSD in 15.7% of the LSs, of whom 5.1% were asymptomatic. HF patients were symptomatically mildly affected, with 8.8% of all LSs classified as New York Heart Association class II, whereas more severe HF was rare (1.8%). Compared with controls, LSs had a substantially increased LVSD risk (odds ratio, 6.6; 95% CI, 2.5 to 17.6; P < .001). A doxorubicin dose ≥ 300 mg/m(2) and cardiac radiation therapy dose greater than 30 Gy were independent risk factors for LVSD.

Conclusion: LVSD was frequent and HF more prevalent than previously reported in LSs after auto-HCT. Our results may help to identify LSs at increased LVSD risk and can serve as a basis for targeted surveillance strategies.