B-type natriuretic peptide plasma level in 5-year breast cancer survivors after radiotherapy

AbstractBackground: Left-sided breast cancer patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) are at risk for late radiation-induced cardiovascular complications.Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the BNP plasma levels in long-term breast cancer survivors who received only RT as well to assess whether cardiac dose was associated with BNP values.Methods: Plasma samples for BNP measurement were repeated in 29 patients (63 ± 11 years) who were alive at 5 years after radiotherapy, free of heart disease and available to provide new blood sample. All patients had BNP measurements at baseline. The ΔBNP was measured to analyze the role of marker variations. No patients received chemotherapy.Results: The mean cardiac and ventricle dose were 2.1 ± 1.0 (range 0.02–4.5) Gy and 3.0 ± 1.7 (range 0.02–7.6), respectively. Median value of BNP was 47 pg/mL (interquartile ranges, 26–58.2 pg/mL) at baseline, and 34 pg/mL (interquartile ranges, 17.5–54 pg/mL) at 5 years after radiotherapy. There was no significantly differe...