Chemotherapy with anthracycklines, even in recommended dosage, is associated with an increased incidence of subclinical and clinical cardiotoxic abnormalities. In this study frequency-dopamin parameters of the ECG signal using high resolution electrocardiography were repeatedly analyzed in 50 paediatric oncological patients after anticancer therapy and in 120 healthy volunteers. Frequency components were significantly higher in cancer survivors than in control subjects. In 12% oncologic patients an abnormal frequency spectrum persisted during the whole follow up (median 6 years after therapy). Persistent frequency abnormalities were not found in healthy subjects. Differences in frequency in the QRS complex between patients and controls might signalize an initial stage of anthracycline-induced myocardial damage.

        Key words: anthracycline cardiotoxicity, high resolution ECG, frequency-domain analysis