Role of ACE inhibitors in anthracycline‐induced cardiotoxicity: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial

Background Several measures including drugs have been tried to reduce anthracycline cardiotoxicity. The lack of randomized trials prompted this study to assess the role of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (enalapril) in anthracycline‐induced cardiotoxicity in children with hematological malignancies. Methods A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial was conducted on 84 patients with leukemia (41) and lymphoma (43) who received anthracyclines (doxorubicin and/or daunorubicin) at cumulative dose ≥200 mg/m2. The patients were randomized to receive either enalapril [group A (n = 44)] or placebo [group B (n = 40)] for 6 months. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and cardiac biomarkers (cardiac troponin I [cTnI], probrain natriuretic peptide [proBNP], and creatine kinase MB [CK‐MB]) were assessed at baseline and 6 months. The primary outcome was a measured decrease in LVEF (≥20%). Secondary outcome measures were changes in cardiac biomarkers and the development of heart failure or arrhythmias. Results LVEF decreased in both groups at 6 months, more so in group B (62.25 ± 5.49 vs 56.15 ± 4.79, P