Are Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin patients at a greater risk of atherosclerosis? A follow-up of 3 years.
Aims and background are to ascertain whether Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin patients are more affected by atherosclerotic process. We studied 96 patients during a period of 3 years (2003-2007). Patients were assessed in the first year soon after receiving radiotherapy and chemotherapy and then reassessed in the third year. All the cases underwent echo-colour Doppler of the carotid axis, and the intima-media thickness (IMT) was measured. When the two time points were compared, the IMT was greater in the arterial district examined at the first assessment; while at the second there was a reduction in the IMT, so patients seemed to improve with time. Flow-mediated dilatation did not improve. Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin patients experience an increase in IMT during treatment, but afterwards they return in their precedent condition. They seem to have a persistently reduced flow-mediated dilatation. Lymphoma therapy probably predisposes patients to early atherosclerosis, and it would be worth trying to reverse this tendency by administering antioxidant therapy.
Bilora
F
F
2nd Internal Medicin Clinic, University of Padua and IRCCS-IOV, Padua, Italy. franca.bilora@sanita.padova.it
Pietrogrande
F
F
Campagnolo
E
E
Rossato
A
A
Polato
G
G
Pomerri
F
F
Muzzio
P C
PC
D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima; D017540:Tunica Media; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color