Prevention of High-Dose Chemotherapy–Induced Cardiotoxicity in High-Risk Patients by Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition

Abstract

Background— An increase in troponin I soon after high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) is a strong predictor of poor cardiological outcome in cancer patients. This finding has important clinical implications and provides a rationale for the development of prophylactic strategies for preventing cardiotoxicity. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors slow the progression of left ventricular dysfunction in different clinical settings, but their role in the prevention of cardiotoxicity has never been investigated. Methods and Results— Of the 473 cancer patients evaluated, 114 (72 women; mean age, 45±12 years) who showed a troponin I increase soon after HDC were randomized to receive (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor group; 20 mg/d; n=56) or not to receive (control subjects; n=58) enalapril. Treatment was started 1 month after HDC and continued for 1 year. Cardiological evaluation was performed at baseline and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after HDC. The primary end point was an absolute decrease >10 percent units ...