Is radiation a risk factor for atherosclerosis? An echo-color Doppler study on Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present paper was to study the role of irradiation in the atherosclerotic process in patients affected by Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.


METHODS
We studied 84 subjects, 42 with Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin disease and 42 controls. All 42 cases had been irradiated and were comparable in terms of risk factors for atherosclerosis. All 84 subjects underwent echo-color Doppler of the arterial axis (carotids, abdominal aorta, and femoral arteries), and the intima-media thickness was measured.


RESULTS
The irradiated cases had a greater intima-media thickness in the carotid district, even after dividing them according to age and sex; males were affected more than females. The irradiated patients were at greater risk of developing cardiovascular events than the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
An echo-color Doppler of the carotid district is advisable in all patients who have been submitted to radiotherapy, and the patients with a significantly greater than normal intima-media thickness need a strict follow-up, and antioxidant or antiaggregant therapy should be considered.
Bilora
Franca
F
2nd Internal Medicine Clinic, University of Padua and IRCCS-IOV, Padua, Italy. franca.bilora@sanita.padova.it
Pietrogrande
Francesco
F
Petrobelli
Francesco
F
Polato
Giuliana
G
Pomerri
Fabio
F
Muzzio
Pier Carlo
PC
D000328:Adult; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000528:radiation effects; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000528:radiation effects; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000528:radiation effects; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000528:radiation effects; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color