title: Effects of anthracyclines on aortic distensibility in patients with lymphomas: a prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anthracyclines have been widely used in the treatment of haematological malignancies. Their major adverse effect is cardiomyopathy, but their effect on vascular elasticity has not been completely elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of anthracyclines on aortic elastic properties in patients with lymphomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 70 patients with lymphomas, 37 males (52.9%), age 44 ± 19 years, who were free of any cardiorenal or metabolic comorbidity. Forty-five (64.2%) had a non-Hodgkin lymphoma and the remainder a Hodgkin lymphoma. All participants were evaluated with echocardiography, laboratory and clinical examinations to estimate cardiac function and aortic elasticity in the following study phases: before the administration of anthracyclines (i.e. baseline), after three months, and after the end of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A progressive decrease in aortic distensibility was observed over the three phases of the study (2.48 ± 0.2 vs. 2.41 ± 0.18, vs. 2.36 ± 0.23, 10(-6).dyn(-1).cm(2); p<0.016 for all comparisons). A statistically significant decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction was also observed between baseline and final follow up. Significant negative predictors of aortic distensibility at final follow up were baseline age, systolic blood pressure, left atrial diameter, and left ventricular ejection fraction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anthracycline therapy decreases aortic distensibility in patients with lymphomas.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Elena Venizelou General and Maternity Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Daskalaki
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Makris
authors.forename: Theodore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vassilakopoulos
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moyssakis
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siakantaris
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angelopoulou
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papadogiannis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vaiopoulos
authors.forename: Gerasimos
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pangalis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology*; D004548:Elasticity; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines