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Last Updated on November 13, 2025 by
Diagnosing chemo-induced cardiotoxicity is key to keeping cancer patients’ hearts safe. At Liv Hospital, we use top-notch cardiac imaging and biomarkers. These tools help us spot and treat heart damage from chemo.
Cardiotoxicity is heart damage from cancer treatments like chemo and radiation. Some chemo drugs raise the risk of heart problems.
We aim to be leaders in care that focuses on results. We follow the latest research to catch and handle cardiotoxicity early. Our detailed heart checks before, during, and after chemo help avoid or lessen heart damage.
Chemotherapy can harm the heart in many ways, from mild to severe damage. It’s important to understand how it affects the heart and how to diagnose it.
Chemotherapy can damage the heart in different ways. We sort these damages to help doctors treat them. Knowing how reversible the damage is helps in planning care and monitoring.
Some chemotherapy drugs, like anthracyclines and trastuzumab, can harm the heart. For example, doxorubicin can cause heart problems, mainly at high doses. It’s important to balance the heart risks with the benefits of treatment for each patient.
Studies show that heart risks are high in breast cancer treatment. Before starting chemotherapy, reviewing a patient’s heart health and risk factors is key. This is as shown in this study.
Heart damage from chemotherapy can range from mild to severe. Symptoms like shortness of breath, tiredness, or irregular heartbeat may lead to further tests. Early detection is vital, and we use tests and clinical checks to spot risks.
Heart damage can slowly get worse, with early signs not always obvious. Regular checks and quick action are essential in managing heart problems caused by chemotherapy.
In the field of cardio-oncology, echocardiography is key for spotting heart problems caused by chemotherapy. It’s a non-invasive way to check the heart’s health. We use it to watch over patients getting chemotherapy that might harm their heart, so we can act fast.
Checking the ejection fraction (EF) is a common way to see how well the heart’s left side works. A big drop in EF can mean heart damage. But, it might miss small changes in heart function until damage is big.
“Using EF alone to spot heart problems can be too late,” a study warns. So, we often add more detailed tests to our checks.
Global Longitudinal Strain (GLS) is a better way to catch heart problems early. It looks at how the left ventricle moves, showing how well it contracts. Studies show GLS is more accurate than EF in spotting heart issues.
Adding GLS to our tests helps us find heart problems sooner. An expert says, “GLS is vital for catching heart damage from chemotherapy early, helping avoid lasting heart harm.”
Three-dimensional echocardiography gives us a better look at the heart. It lets us measure heart volumes and EF more accurately. This is great for patients with complex heart issues or who need close monitoring.
Using these echocardiography methods, we can keep a close eye on patients getting heart-risky chemotherapy. Spotting heart problems early helps us act fast, which can stop long-term heart damage. As cardio-oncology grows, echocardiography’s role in finding heart problems stays key.
Biomarkers are key in spotting cardiotoxicity, a serious issue linked to chemotherapy. They show early signs of heart damage, helping us act fast.
We check certain biomarkers to see if patients might face heart problems from chemo. High-sensitivity troponin and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) are important. They go up in the blood when heart cells get hurt.
High-sensitivity troponin is a top marker for heart damage. It shows up when the heart gets hurt. This helps us catch problems early and stop them from getting worse.
Elevated troponin levels signal cardiac damage, which is a big warning sign. We keep an eye on troponin levels to spot at-risk patients.
B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) is also a key marker for heart issues. It goes up when the heart works too hard. This tells us if someone might be facing heart problems.
Using both high-sensitivity troponin and BNP helps us catch heart issues early. These biomarkers complement each other, giving us a full picture of the heart’s health during chemo.
When we check biomarkers is very important for spotting heart problems. We do this at certain times during chemo to keep an eye on the heart. This way, we can catch and fix problems before they get bad.
Knowing when to check biomarkers helps us manage heart risks in chemo patients. It’s key to watch high-sensitivity troponin and BNP levels closely. This helps us find at-risk patients and take steps to prevent heart issues.
We use advanced imaging to check for cardiotoxicity. This helps us understand the heart’s structure and how it works.
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (CMR) is key for checking the heart. It shows the heart’s structure and function, including the heart muscle. CMR can spot heart swelling and scarring, showing how much damage there is.
Key benefits of CMR include:
Nuclear imaging, like Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT), helps check the heart. They look at how well the heart gets blood and if it’s working right.
The advantages of nuclear imaging include:
We combine different imaging methods to fully understand the heart. This mix of CMR, nuclear imaging, and more gives a complete picture of heart health. It helps us spot and treat heart problems early.
The benefits of an integrated approach include:
Diagnosing chemo-induced cardiotoxicity needs a detailed approach. This includes using advanced cardiac imaging and biomarkers. We know that chemotherapy can harm the heart. It’s important to spot at-risk patients early to avoid long-term heart damage in cancer survivors.
Using proven diagnostic methods helps us act fast to prevent or lessen heart damage. We must watch for heart failure signs in cancer patients. Also, we need to know how different chemotherapy drugs can affect the heart in clinical trials.
At Liv Hospital, we aim to provide top-notch healthcare. We support international patients with the best care possible. Our goal is to ensure patients get the right care quickly. This reduces the risk of heart problems from chemotherapy.
Chemo-induced cardiotoxicity is heart damage from some chemotherapy drugs. It can cause heart problems, from mild to severe heart failure.
Drugs like anthracyclines and trastuzumab can harm the heart. We carefully use these drugs and watch patients for heart issues.
We use advanced tests like echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) to find heart damage. We also check for biomarkers like troponin and BNP.
Echocardiography is key for spotting heart damage. It’s a non-invasive way to check the heart’s function. We look at ejection fraction, global longitudinal strain, and three-dimensional echocardiography.
Heart damage from chemo can be mild or severe. We watch for changes in biomarkers and imaging results to catch it early.
Yes, chemo can harm the heart long after treatment. We stress the need for ongoing care to catch late heart problems.
Catching heart damage early is key. We check the heart before, during, and after chemo. This helps us spot risks and act fast.
Biomarkers like troponin and BNP are vital. They show early heart damage, helping us act quickly.
We use advanced imaging and biomarkers to check the heart. This helps us find and prevent heart damage from chemo.
Loganathan, V., et al. (2023). Efficacy of vitamin C with iron supplementation in patients with iron deficiency anemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Blood Vessels Thrombosis and Hemostasis. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2405457723011828
