Key result
Irradiated common carotid arteries showed significantly higher elastic modulus compared to unirradiated contralateral arteries (e.g., proximal CCA: 1301 vs 801; P<0.0001).
Why the study?
Does unilateral radiotherapy increase arterial stiffness in the irradiated common carotid artery compared to the unirradiated side in patients with head and neck cancer?
Observational (n=50)
Does unilateral radiotherapy increase arterial stiffness in the irradiated common carotid artery compared to the unirradiated side in patients with head and neck cancer?
p-value: p=< .0001
Radiotherapy to the neck is associated with increased arterial stiffness in the irradiated carotid artery, suggesting a mechanism for radiation-induced atherosclerosis.
Arterial stiffness indices may signal radiation-induced carotid damage; leaves open their value as biomarkers pending prospective validation.
Arterial stiffness is thought to be a precursor to atherosclerosis. Conventional arterial stiffness parameters as potential biomarkers of radiation-induced damage were investigated. Patients with head and neck cancer treated with radiotherapy ≥2 years previously to one side of the neck were included. The unirradiated side was the internal control. Beta stiffness index (B) and elastic modulus (Ep) were used to assess arterial stiffness and were measured in proximal, mid, and distal common carotid artery (CCA) and compared with the corresponding unirradiated segments. Fifty patients (68% male; median age 58 years; interquartile range 50-62) were included. Mean ± standard deviation maximum doses to irradiated and unirradiated arteries were 53 ± 13 and 1.9 ± 3.7 Gy, respectively. Differences in B were not significant. Significant differences in Ep were demonstrated-proximal CCA: 1301 ± 1223 versus 801 ± 492 (P < .0001), mid CCA: 1064 ± 818 versus 935.5 ± 793 (P < .0001), and distal CCA: 1267 ± 1084 versus 775.3 ± 551.9 (P < .0001). Surgery had no impact on arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness is increased in irradiated arteries, in keeping with radiation-induced damage. Prospective data may show an association between arterial stiffness and atherosclerosis in this setting.
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Gujral et al. (2015) conducted an observational in Head and neck cancer (n=50). Radiotherapy to one side of the neck vs. Unirradiated contralateral side was evaluated on Arterial stiffness assessed by Beta stiffness index (B) and elastic modulus (Ep) (p=< .0001). Irradiated common carotid arteries showed significantly higher elastic modulus compared to unirradiated contralateral arteries (e.g., proximal CCA: 1301 vs 801; P<0.0001).
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