Modern therapies targeting the BRAF gene mutation in advanced melanoma have significantly improved patient outcomes but pose cardiovascular risks. This retrospective study in Eastern Denmark (2019–2022) assessed 108 melanoma patients treated with encorafenib and binimetinib. Patients were monitored for heart function using multigated acquisition (MUGA) scans. The study defined major cardiotoxicity as a decline in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) by more than 10 percentage points to below 50%, and minor cardiotoxicity as a decrease in LVEF by more than 15 points but remaining above 50%. Results showed that 19 patients (18%) developed minor cardiotoxicity and were asymptomatic, while 7 (6%) experienced major cardiotoxicity, with two requiring intervention. Notably, no significant declines in LVEF were observed after six months of treatment. The study concluded that significant cardiotoxicity occurred in 6% of cases, mostly asymptomatic and reversible, and suggests that monitoring LVEF could potentially be reduced after 6–9 months if no early signs of cardiotoxicity are detected. This provides valuable insights into the cardiac safety of these treatments in real-world settings.

Three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) is currently the preferred method for monitoring left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in cancer patients receiving potentially cardiotoxic anti-neoplastic therapy. In Denmark, however, the traditional standard for LVEF monitoring has been rooted in nuclear medicine departments utilizing equilibrium radionuclide angiography (ERNA). Although ERNA remains a principal modality, there is an emerging trend towards the adoption of echocardiography for this purpose. Given this context, assessing the reproducibility of 3DE among non-specialized medical personnel is crucial for its clinical adoption in such departments. To assess the feasibility of 3DE for LVEF measurements by technologists, we evaluated the repeatability and reproducibility of two moderately experienced technologists. They performed 3DE on 12 volunteers over two sessions, with a collaborative review of the results from the first session before the second session. Two-way intraclass correlation values increased from 0.03 to 0.77 across the sessions. This increase in agreement was mainly due to the recognition of false low measurements. Our findings underscore the importance of incorporating reproducibility exercises in the context of 3DE, especially when operated by technologists. Additionally, routine control of the acquisitions by physicians is deemed necessary. Ensuring these hurdles are adequately managed enables the adoption of 3DE for LVEF measurements by technologists.

Background Changes in inflammatory and metabolic markers are implicated in the pathogenesis in both the development and progression of bipolar disorder (BD). Notwithstanding, these markers have not been investigated in newly diagnosed BD. Methods We compared high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and homocysteine (Hcy) levels in 372 patients with newly diagnosed BD, 106 unaffected first-degree relatives (URs), and 201 healthy control persons (HCs). Within the patient group, we also investigated possible associations between hs-CRP and Hcy, respectively, with illness-related characteristics and psychotropic medication. Results No statistically significant differences in Hcy and hs-CRP levels were found when comparing BD and URs with HCs. Similarly, there were no differences when comparing only patients in remission or patients with affective symptoms, respectively, with HCs. Hcy levels were found to be 11.9% (95% CI: 1.030-1.219) higher in patients with BD when compared with their URs (p = 0.008), when adjusting for folate and cobalamin status, age, sex, and self-reported activity levels. Hcy levels were significantly associated with folate, cobalamin, gender, and age in all models (p < 0.05). Conclusion Our results do not support hs-CRP or Hcy as markers in newly diagnosed BD.

Advances in cancer therapy have improved patient outcomes, but cardiotoxicity remains a significant risk. In melanoma patients treated with BRAF and MEK inhibitors, monitoring left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) during treatment is recommended to detect cardiac dysfunction. Despite the widespread use of FDG-PET in oncology, its potential for concurrent cardiac assessment remains underexplored. A 42-year-old male undergoing treatment for disseminated melanoma underwent measurements of LVEF using four modalities: 3D-MUGA, 3D echocardiography, Rb-PET, and gated FDG-PET. LVEF was within the normal range across all modalities: 60% (3D-MUGA), 61% (3D echocardiography), 63% (Rb-PET), and 65% (FDG-PET). This case presents an estimation of LVEF derived from a clinically indicated, FDG-PET scan, performed alongside three conventional modalities on the same day. This approach may be particularly useful in melanoma patients who undergo frequent FDG-PET scans. While the findings are promising, broader validation is needed.

Background: Left ventricular ejection fraction remains the primary focus in cardiac monitoring for oncology patients undergoing potentially cardiotoxic chemotherapy, while right ventricular function is seldom examined. This study evaluates how established risk factors for left ventricular dysfunction affect right ventricular function. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 1770 patients undergoing cadmium–zinc–telluride equilibrium radionuclide angiocardiography before chemotherapy. Patients were categorized based on risk factors for left ventricular dysfunction—diabetes (DM), atrial fibrillation (AF), coronary heart disease (CHD), and previous oncological therapy—and compared to controls using independent t-tests. Results: Patients with previous oncological therapy exhibited a significantly lower right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV) (mean difference: −4.4 mL/m², 95% CI: −6.1 to −2.7, p < 0.001), lower right ventricular end-systolic volume (RVESV) (−2.3 mL/m², 95% CI: −3.4 to −1.2, p < 0.001), and lower right ventricular stroke volume (RVSV) (−2.1 mL/m², 95% CI: −3 to −1.2, p < 0.001). In patients with CHD, there was a higher right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) (3.0 mL/m², 95% CI: 0.8 to 5.2, p < 0.01), whereas patients with DM had lower RVEDV (−5.1 mL/m², 95% CI: −9.2 to −1, p < 0.05) and RVESV (−3.0 mL/m², 95% CI: −5.5 to −0.4, p < 0.05). No ventricular variables differed from the control group among patients with AF. Conclusions: Risk factors known to affect the left ventricle also impacted the right ventricle, with the exception of AF.