Pregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy in survivors of childhood cancer.

purposeCurrent information regarding pregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy among women treated for childhood cancer is insufficient to appropriately guide counseling and patient management. This study aims to characterize its prevalence within a large cohort of females exposed to cardiotoxic therapy.

methodsThis is a retrospective cohort study of female cancer survivors treated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital between 1963 and 2006, at least 5 years from diagnosis, ≥13 years old at last follow-up, and with at least one successful pregnancy. Pregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy was defined as shortening fraction <28 % or ejection fraction <50 % or treatment for cardiomyopathy during or up to 5 months after completion of pregnancy.

resultsAmong the 847 female cancer survivors with 1554 completed pregnancies, only 3 (0.3 %) developed pregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy and 40 developed non-pregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy either 5 months postpartum (n = 14) or prior to pregnancy (n = 26). Among those with cardiomyopathy prior to pregnancy (n = 26), cardiac function deteriorated during pregnancy in eight patients (three patients with normalization of cardiac function prior to pregnancy, three with persistently abnormal cardiac function, and two for whom resolution of cardiomyopathy was unknown prior to pregnancy). Patients that developed cardiomyopathy received a higher median dose of anthracyclines compared to those that did not (321 versus 164 mg/m(2); p < 0.01).

conclusionsPregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy in childhood cancer survivors is rare. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Most female childhood cancer survivors will have no cardiac complications during or after childbirth; however, those with a history of cardiotoxic therapies should be followed carefully during pregnancy, particularly those with a history of anthracycline exposures and if they had documented previous or current subclinical or symptomatic cardiomyopathy.