[Free radical peroxidation processes and cardiotoxicity in treatment of malignant lymphomas]

The dynamics of free radical and peroxidation processes in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) was studied parallel to the evaluation of changes in the functional condition of the cardiovascular system during a course of chemotherapy. Thirty-one patients (17 men; 14 women) aged 30 to 81, were examined. The dynamics of active oxygen forms (AOF) generation was studied using chemiluminiscent technique. The intensity of leucocyte chemiluminiscence (CL) (basal and zimozan-stimulated ones), the blood level of malonic dialdehyde, the antiperoxidation blood plasma activity according to its hydrogen peroxide-induced CL intensity, were measured. The functional condition of the cardiovascular system was evaluated using ECG, EchoCG, and Holter monitoring. The study revealed an increase in AOF generation by leucocytes, which correlated with the severity of the disease. The treatment of the NHL patients with cytostatics was associated with the activation of free radical reactions, which was maximal during the first 24 hours 1 hour after drug administration. Cytostatic therapy was characterized by a cardiotoxic effect, which consisted in an increase in the rate of various arrhythmias and a decrease in the heart contractility. The study demonstrates a direct correlation between the degree of AOF generation growth and the prominence of myocardial lesion signs. The authors conclude that the intensification of free radical reactions under the conditions of cytostatic therapy causes cardiotoxic effects, which requires a course of preventive cardioprotective therapy before chemotherapy is commenced.