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Accelerated increase in aortic diameter in patients treated for lymphoma
S P Dawer1, T Featherstone, M A Ratcliffe
1Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, U.K.
Heart and Vessels
|January 1, 1988
Summary
Chemotherapy, including anthracyclines, can harm the aorta, not just the heart. Certain chemotherapy regimens, like CHOP and CVP, showed greater aortic diameter increases than expected in lymphoma patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cardiology
- Radiology
Background:
- Cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents, especially anthracyclines, are recognized for cardiotoxicity.
- Aortic toxic effects from chemotherapy have not been previously documented.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential toxic effects of first-line chemotherapy regimens on aortic dimensions in lymphoma patients.
- To compare aortic diameter changes after different chemotherapy protocols.
Main Methods:
- Computerized tomography (CT) was used to measure ascending and descending thoracic aortic diameters.
- Measurements were taken in 69 lymphoma patients before and after first-line treatment.
- Seven different chemotherapy regimens were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Significant increases in aortic diameter were observed in both ascending and descending aortae after CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone) and CVP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone) chemotherapy.
- Smaller, non-statistically significant changes were noted with MVPP, ChlVPP, ChlVP, mediastinal radiotherapy, and MVPP/XRT regimens.
- Aortic diameter increases exceeded expected age-related changes following specific chemotherapy treatments.
Conclusions:
- Cardiovascular damage from cytotoxic therapy extends beyond the heart to affect the aorta.
- Certain chemotherapy regimens, notably CHOP and CVP, are associated with aortic dilation in lymphoma patients.
- This study highlights a previously undocumented aortic toxicity of specific chemotherapeutic agents.