Analysis of AI-ECG and NT-pro-BNP to Improve Cardiomyopathy Detection in Adult Cancer Survivors, CASCADE Study
This study analyzes the use of AI-ECG and NT-pro-BNP blood testing to improve anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy detection in adult cancer survivors. Anthracycline is a type of antibiotic that is used to treat many types of cancer, including breast cancer, lymphoma, and sarcomas. Anthracyclines damage the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in cancer cells, causing them to die. A side-effect of using anthracyclines is cardiomyopathy, which is a disease of the heart muscle. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have developed a deep learning algorithm to predict a low left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) based on the electrocardiogram (ECG) (AI-ECG). An ECG is a line graph that shows changes in the electrical activity of the heart over time. It is made by an instrument called an electrocardiograph. The graph can show that there are abnormal conditions, such as blocked arteries, changes in electrolytes (particles with electrical charges), and changes in the way electrical currents pass through the heart tissue. Mobile ECG could allow easier access for cardiac monitoring in high-risk patients. Additionally, N-terminal fragment brain natriuretic protein (NT-pro-BNP) is a blood test that is a marker for cardiac failure. Researchers may learn ways to improve treatment strategies for newly diagnosed cardiomyopathy after anthracycline treatment, and by finding a biomarker (a molecule found in the blood) to identify which patients are at highest risk of cardiac dysfunction, doctors may reduce cardiovascular complications in an efficient way.