Utility Of Routine Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (Lvef) Measurement Prior To Administration Of Anthracycline-Based Chemotherapy In Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (Dlbcl)

Anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens are considered the gold standard for treating patients with DLBCL. Prior to administration of chemotherapy, LVEF is routinely measured, usually by multiple-gated acquisition (MUGA) scans or echocardiography, as a screening tool for detecting asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction. LVEF screening is recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical practice guidelines, is endorsed by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology, appears on Federal Drug Administration-approved labeling guidelines, and is often required for patients to participate in US cancer cooperative group clinical trails. However, despite these recommendations, evidence supporting the utility of LVEF measurement prior to administration of anthracycline-based chemotherapy in patients with DLBCL is lacking (Conrad, J Oncol Pract 2012).