Purpose: Hodgkin's lymphoma survivors (HLSs) have an elevated risk for cardiovascular diseases that appear several years after radiotherapy. This study examined the time-dependent development and evolution of valvular and myocardial function related to treatment with mediastinal radiotherapy and anthracyclines in HLSs.
Patients and methods: In 1993, echocardiography was performed in 116 HLSs median 10 years (range 6-13 years) after treatment with mediastinal radiotherapy. None of the 116 patients had valvular stenosis in 1993 whereas 36 (31%) had moderate valvular regurgitation. In 2005-2007, 51 of 57 invited patients were included in a second echocardiographic study - median 22 years (range 11-27 years) after treatment. Of these patients, 28 (55%) had also received anthracyclines. The patients were selected on the basis of the presence or absence of moderate valvular regurgitation in 1993.
Results: The second echocardiographic study demonstrated that 10 out of 27 (37%) patients with only mild or no aortic or mitral regurgitation in 1993 had developed moderate regurgitation in either or both the aortic or mitral valve. Of the 24 patients with moderate (n=23) or severe (n=1) regurgitation in the aortic or mitral valve in 1993, 8 (33%) had progressed to severe regurgitation, developed moderate regurgitation in a previously normal or mild regurgitant valve or had received valvular replacement. In total, of all patients, 20 (39%) had developed mild to severe aortic stenosis and 3 patients had received valvular replacement. In a multiple linear regression the use of anthracyclines predicted left ventricular remodelling between ECHO 1993 and 2005 as demonstrated by increased left ventricular end systolic diameter (beta =0.09 (95% CI 0.01-0.17), P=0.04) and reduced thickness of the left ventricular posterior wall (beta =-0.18 (95% CI -0.33 to -0.03), P=0.02) and interventricular septum (beta =-0.16 (95% CI -0.30 to -0.03), P=0.02).
Conclusion: Given the progressive nature of valvular dysfunction and left ventricular remodelling 20-30 years after diagnosis, we recommend life-long cardiological follow-up of HLSs treated with mediastinal radiotherapy.