title: Effects of ionizing radiation on the heart.
abstract: This article provides an overview of studies addressing effects of ionizing radiation on the heart. Clinical studies have identified early and late manifestations of radiation-induced heart disease, a side effect of radiation therapy to tumors in the chest when all or part of the heart is situated in the radiation field. Studies in preclinical animal models have contributed to our understanding of the mechanisms by which radiation may injure the heart. More recent observations in human subjects suggest that ionizing radiation may have cardiovascular effects at lower doses than was previously thought. This has led to examinations of low-dose photons and low-dose charged particle irradiation in animal models. Lastly, studies have started to identify non-invasive methods for detection of cardiac radiation injury and interventions that may prevent or mitigate these adverse effects. Altogether, this ongoing research should increase our knowledge of biological mechanisms of cardiovascular radiation injury, identify non-invasive biomarkers for early detection, and potential interventions that may prevent or mitigate these adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Division of Radiation Health, Little Rock, AR, United States. Electronic address: mboerma@uams.edu.
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boerma
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Division of Radiation Health, Little Rock, AR, United States.
authors.forename: Vijayalakshmi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sridharan
authors.affiliation: Loma Linda University, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Xiao-Wen
authors.initials: XW
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: Loma Linda University, Department of Basic Sciences, Loma Linda, CA, United States.
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Georgetown University Medical Center, Departments of Oncology and Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Washington, DC, United States.
authors.forename: Amrita K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Cheema
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Environment and Occupational Health, Little Rock, AR, United States.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koturbash
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Little Rock, AR, United States.
authors.forename: Sharda P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Little Rock, AR, United States.
authors.forename: Alan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Tackett
authors.affiliation: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Division of Radiation Health, Little Rock, AR, United States; Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Surgical Service, Little Rock, AR, United States.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hauer-Jensen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003359:Cosmic Radiation; D006321:Heart / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D023421:Models, Animal; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing
keywords: Heart; Intervention; Low-dose radiation; Radiation therapy; Radiation-induced heart disease