The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics 2010 , Vol 52 , Num 4
Severe valvular toxicity and pericarditis early after radiation therapy in a patient treated for Hodgkin's lymphoma
1 Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children’s Medical Center, and 2 Growth and Development Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Hodgkin's disease can be cured in most cases by radiotherapy. However, it can increase the risk of cardiotoxicity. Here, we report a patient with Hodgkin’s disease and superior vena cava syndrome who was treated with chemotherapy in combination with radiotherapy. Four months after the initiation of this therapy, she developed progressive dyspnea. Pleural and pericardial effusion, severe mitral regurgitation, moderate aortic insufficiency, and mild tricuspid regurgitation were detected in echocardiography, which suggested heart failure. The patient was then treated with intrapericardial drainage and received dopamine and diuretics for congestive heart failure; she responded well to this treatment and was discharged in good condition. After high-dose mediastinal radiation, cardiologic screening is recommended in order to identify patients with radiation-induced heart disease and to assess their need for treatment and follow-up. Keywords : cardiotoxicity, Hodgkin's lymphoma, radiotherapy.
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