Abstract:

Childhood cancer survivors have a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Improved screening methods are needed for early detection of cardiotoxicity. The aim of the study is to evaluate arterial stiffness as an indicator of vascular damage by oscillometric pulse wave analysis in childhood cancer survivors. A total of 38 patients and 25 age and gender matched healthy volunteers were included in this cross-sectional single centre study. All participants, underwent evaluation of arterial stiffness through non-invasive measurement of hemodynamic parameters such as pulse wave velocity (PWV) and central systolic blood pressure (c-SBP) with the Mobil-O-Graph® pulse wave analysis device. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were obtained by M-mode echocardiography. The median age of the childhood cancer survivors was 12.5 (4.25-18) and the median duration time after end of chemotherapy was 36 (12-116) months. Both groups were statistically similar in age, body mass index, LVEF and LVMI. Childhood cancer survivors had significantly lower peripheral systolic blood pressure compared to controls. Average c-SBP and PWV were similar between groups. Childhood cancer survivors > 15 years old also had similar PWV value with those < 15 years old. There were no signs of arterial stiffness in childhood cancer survivors late after chemotherapy according to the ambulatory oscillometric PWA. Longer follow-up duration may be required to determination of subclinical vascular damage

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