Objective To analyze the changes in left ventricular deformation function in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with different doses of anthracycline chemotherapy using 3D speckle-tracking imaging (3D-STI).

Methods 66 DLBCL patients receiving anthracycline chemotherapy were enrolled. Based on the cumulative dose of anthracycline received, the patients were divided into a high-dose group (> 360 mg/m², n＝39) and a low-dose group (≤360 mg/m², n＝27). Patients underwent transthoracic echocardiography before chemotherapy and within one week after completion of the entire chemotherapy cycle. Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), left ventricular global circumferential strain (LVGCS), and other indices were analyzed using 3D-STI to assess changes in left ventricular deformation indices after chemotherapy and between two groups.

Results Compared to baseline, DLBCL patients showed significant reductions in LVGLS, LVGCS and left atrial global longitudinal strain (LAGLS) after treatment completion (P < 0.001). When comparing the high-dose group with the low-dose group, there was a significant increase in relative LVGCS change rate at the end of chemotherapy (21.12 6.52, 35.37 vs 5.49 ﹣14.73, 27.01; P＝0.03). However, there were no statistically significant differences in relative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), LVGLS, LVGCS, LVEF change rate, or LVGLS change rate between the two groups.

Conclusions 3D-STI can be a potential method to identify the sub-clinical deterioration of left ventricular systolic function in patients received anthracycline chemotherapy, the difference of change rate of LVGCS may predict the variation of sub-clinical deterioration of left ventricular function between patients received high and low doses of anthracycline chemotherapy.