Cardiac troponin-I, brain natriuretic peptide and endothelin-1 levels in a rat model of doxorubicin-induced cardiac injury

Background: Cardiotoxicity, during or after therapy, is the most serious side effect of doxorubicin (DXR). The risk of developing cardiac impairment increases concomitantly with an increase in the cumulative dose of DXR. Aim: The aim was to evaluate the levels of cardiac troponin-I (cTnI), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in DXR induced cardiac injury. Materials and Methods: Thirty-nine Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups; a control group and two-study groups that received low-dose DXR (LDD) and high-dose DXR (HDD) in a weekly schedule for reaching a cumulative dose. Results: Serum cTnI level was significantly increased in both LDD and HDD-treated groups. Although serum BNP was not significantly increased either LDD or HDD-treated groups, ET-1 levels was significantly increased in only HDD-treated groups. Histopathologic injury was more evident in HDD-treated group. Conclusions: Serum cTnI was increased even in LDD and parallel to it low cardiac injury induced by DXR. In the low-dose group, BNP and ET-1 levels were not elevated significant as cTnI despite cardiac injury. Thus, cTnI may be a predictive marker in of DXR-induced cardiotoxicity.