Is Low-Dose Radiation Exposure a Risk Factor for Atherosclerotic Disease?

Is Low-Dose Radiation Exposure a Risk Factor for Atherosclerotic Disease? Radiat Res. 2018 Feb 20;: Authors: Boaventura P, Durães C, Mendes A, Costa NR, Chora I, Ferreira S, Araújo E, Lopes P, Rosa G, Marques P, Tavares S, Chaves V, Bettencourt P, Oliveira I, Costa F, Ramos I, Teles MJ, Guimarães JT, Sobrinho-Simões M, Soares P Abstract Nontargeted late effects of radiation include an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, although this is still debatable in the context of low-dose radiation. Tinea capitis patients treated in childhood with X rays to induce scalp epilation received a low dose of radiation to their carotids. To better clarify this issue, we evaluated carotid atherosclerosis in a cohort of such patients treated in 1950-1963 in Portugal. A group of 454 individuals randomly chosen from previously observed Portuguese tinea capitis patients and a control group mainly composed of their spouses (n = 280) were enrolled. Cardiovascular risk factors such as waist circumference, body mass index, blood pressure and tobacco consumption, as well as biochemical measurements were obtained. Ultrasound imaging of carotid arteries for intima media thickness and stenosis evaluation were performed according to a standardized protocol. In comparison to the control group, the irradiated cohort members were significantly older, more frequently never smokers, hypertensive, and presented higher glycated hemoglobin and alkaline phosphata...
Source: Radiation Research - Category: Physics Authors: Tags: Radiat Res Source Type: research