Effects of Chemotherapy on Aortic 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose Uptake in Patients With Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Background: Despite advances in the treatment of oncology patients, therapy-related side effects may lead to premature morbidity. Inflammatory activation that has been linked to cardiovascular disease is crucial for the pathogenesis of both Hodgkin (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the vascular effects of chemotherapy in patients with HL and NHL by positron emission tomography/computed tomography with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (18-FDG PET/CT) and to investigate interactions with systemic inflammation as assessed by circulating inflammatory markers.
Methods: Between July 2015 and July 2019, 65 consecutive patients (mean age 56 ± 17.78 years) with confirmed diagnosis of either HL (n = 33) or NHL (n = 32) were prospectively studied. PET/CT imaging was performed at baseline, at an interim phase, and after first-line treatment. Aortic FDG uptake was assessed by measuring global aortic target-to-background ratio (GLA-TBR). Serum biomarkers interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1b were measured at each phase.
Results: Patients with HL demonstrated significant reduction in aortic TBR after first-line treatment (median GLA-TBR baseline: 1.98, median GLA-TBR third scan: 1.75, median difference = -0.20, 95% CI: -0.07 to -0.33, P  = 0.006), which remained significant after adjustment for confounders (adj. R ² of model = 0.53). In contrast, patients with NHL did not demonstrate a significant aortic inflammation response ( P  = 0.306). Furthermore, patients with HL demonstrated a significant reduction in IL-6 ( P  = 0.048) and IL-1b ( P  = 0.045), whereas patients with NHL did not demonstrate significant reduction in IL-6 ( P  = 0.085) and IL-1b levels ( P  = 0.476).
Conclusions: Aortic inflammation, as assessed by 18-FDG PET/CT, is reduced in HL patients after first-line treatment but not in NHL patients. These findings imply that different pathophysiological pathways and different therapies might affect the arterial bed in different ways for patients with lymphoma.
Competing Interests: The study was funded in part by the Hellenic Society of Hypertension. The authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.
(© 2023 The Authors.)