Tei index in adult patients submitted to adriamycin chemotherapy: failure to predict early systolic dysfunction

Aims This study prospectively assessed whether Tei index is predictive of early systolic dysfunction in adults undergoing adriamycin treatment. Methods and results Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was obtained by radionuclide ventriculography at baseline and after treatment. Tei index was evaluated by echocardiography at baseline, at an intermediary cycle and at the end of chemotherapy. Fifty-five predominantly female patients (91%) with breast cancer (80%) and without known cardiac disease were evaluated. After treatment (adriamycin dose of 304 ± 47 mg/m 2 ), systolic dysfunction (final LVEF < 50%) occurred in eight patients (14%). Baseline, intermediate or variation of Tei index were not accurate to predict early systolic dysfunction (“c” statistics ≤ 0.60). Baseline Tei index > 0.39, for example, had a sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 55%, positive predictive value of 22% and negative predictive value of 93%. Conclusion Tei index does not appear to be a useful tool for detection of early adriamycin cardiotoxicity in adults.