The effects of cardiotoxic chemotherapy on blood pressure in patients with lymphoma

Treatment for lymphoma often involves regimens containing doxorubicin and/or cyclophosphamide. Both are cardiotoxic and we have previously shown that the ascending and descending aorta can also be affected. In view of this we have measured the ambulatory blood pressures of patients newly diagnosed with lymphoma undergoing chemotherapy with and without cardiotoxic agents. Three separate 24 h recordings were taken: at the beginning, half-way through and on completion of treatment. There was no significant change in the blood pressure whether or not treatment included doxorubicin and/or cyclophosphamide containing regimens. Our findings suggest that the peripheral vasculature is not affected by standard first-line cardiotoxic chemotherapy in patients without known cardiovascular disease.