People who undergo chest radiation therapy early in life to treat Hodgkin’s disease - a type of lymphoma - appear to be at increased risk of “unsuspected, clinically significant cardiovascular abnormalities,” researchers report.

Dr. Steven E. Lipshultz of the University of Miami School of Medicine and colleagues studied 48 Hodgkin’s disease survivors about 14 years after their diagnosis. All had been given radiation to the mid-chest area when they were 16-1/2 years old, on average.

As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the patients described their health as being good or better and none had symptoms of heart disease. However, screening showed that all but one had cardiac abnormalities.

Overall, the subjects had significantly reduced heart chamber dimensions and pumping efficiency. Significant defects in the heart valves were seen in 42 percent, and 75 percent had electrical conduction defects.

Moreover, there appeared to be problems in regulating the heart rate, as evidenced by a persistently fast heart rhythm in 31 percent and a blunted response to exercise in 27 percent.

Given these findings, Lipshultz’s team recommends “serial, comprehensive cardiac screening of Hodgkin’s disease survivors” who have undergone radiation treatment.

SOURCE: Journal of Clinical Oncology, August 1, 2004.