Anthracyclines areamong the most frequently used cytostatics in the treatment of haematological malignities and some solid tumours in childhood and adult age. They affect cellular proliferation in several ways. One of them is the formation of semiquinone radicals which form with oxygen toxic peroxides which damage the myocyte and lead to cardiotoxicity. Cardiotoxicity of anthracyclines has become a clinical problem as it restricts the administered dose of the cytostatic and has become particularly urgent after discovery of the late toxicity which appears some years after termination of anti-tumourous treatment. Damage of the left ventricle is usually characterized by partial reversible contractile dysfunction (early damage) or progressing contractile dysfunction (late damage). The diagnosis of cardiotoxicity is important during the period of treatment but in particular after completed chemotherapy. The application of diagnostic methods before and in the course of chemotherapy is indicated when large doses of anthracyclines will be administered or when in the patient risk factors cumulate or if he developed signs of cardiotoxicity. The use of diagnostic methods after termination of treatment is valuable for early detection of late cardiotoxicity for timing of further diagnostic methods currently used in cardiology. In the routine diagnosis the authors prefer follow up of the left ventricle by assessment of the ejection fraction by echocardiography or by radionuclide examination. In paediatrics we follow up indicators of systolic left ventricular function in relation to changes of the after load. The authors present also a review of other diagnostic methods and procedures which may prove useful in the diagnosis of cardiotoxicity of anthracyclines.

Keywords: Anthracyclines /adverse effects/; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic /adverse effects/; Heart /drug effects/; Heart Diseases /chemically induced/; Humans; Myocardial Contraction /drug effects/; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left /chemically induced/