Is radiation a risk factor for atherosclerosis'An echo-cor Doppler study on Hodgkin and non Hodgkin patients.

Aims and background: 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.