Four-Dimensional Echocardiographic Evaluation of Left Ventricular Systolic Functions in Patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia Receiving Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are established treatment for haematological malignancies. However, cardiac adverse effects, including the reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction and symptomatic heart failure remain clinical problems. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the left ventricular systolic functions in patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia receiving TKIs. A cross-sectional and observational study was conducted of 37 patients with chronic myeloid leukaemia receiving dasatinib or nilotinib after imatinib failure. Left ventricular systolic functions were evaluated using four-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography derived global longitudinal (GLS), circumferential (GCS), radial (GRS), and area (GAS) strain indices. Mean ejection fraction, stroke volume, cardiac output and left ventricular mass index were similar between control and patient groups and within normal limits. GLS (- 16.7% vs - 20.8%, p < 0.001), GCS (- 13.0% vs - 15.6%, p = 0.002), and GAS (- 26.2% vs - 31.0, p < 0.001) values were significantly higher in the patient population than those of the controls. Dasatinib and nilotinib groups did not show differences regarding strain indices. In multivariate regression analysis, only the usage of dasatinib or nilotinib was found to be an independent risk factor for diminished GAS (β = 4.406, p = 0.016), GLS (β = 3.797, p = 0.001), and GCS (β = 2.404, p = 0.040). Although imatinib, nilotinib, and dasatinib seem to be clinically safe in terms of cardiac function, monitoring of systolic functions using strain imaging, and long-term observation of patients may provide early detection of the possible cardiac toxicity.