Cardiopulmonary toxicity after three courses of ABVD and mediastinal irradiation in favorable Hodgkin’s disease

Summary

The combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in Hodgkin’s disease has been associated with iatrogenic effects. Forty adult patients were studied to evaluate the early toxicity following three courses of ABVD (cumulative dose of doxorubicin [Adriamycin] 150 mg/m², and bleomycin 60 mg) and mediastinal irradiation at 40 Gy. Cardiopulmonary toxicity was assessed from six months to three years after completion of irradiation. Of the 40 patients, all of whom were in complete remission from Hodgkin’s disease, 6 experienced dyspnea on exertion. In studies related to Cardiac toxicity, the left ventricular ejection fraction ranged from 50 to 77% (mean 63%); 8 patients had a minor pericardial effusion, 4 had valvular calcification, and 6 had minimal cardiac abnormalities. With regard to pulmonary toxicity, CT scan showed a small pleural effusion with pleural thickening in 19 patients and mediastinal or apical fibrosis in 15 patients. The total pulmonary capacity value was low (<80%), in 19 patients, and decreased carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (<70%) was found in 10 patients. We conclude that early cardiac toxicity was absent despite the use of Adriamycin and mediastinal irradiation. Pulmonary toxicity was present but minor, and it may decrease with the use of smaller fraction sizes for mantle field irradiation.