TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of ionizing radiation on the cardiovascular system
AU - Aerts, An
AU - Baselet, Bjorn
AU - Ramadan, Raghda
AU - Benotmane, Rafi
AU - Baatout, Sarah
N1 - Score=10
PY - 2017/12/1
Y1 - 2017/12/1
N2 - Traditionally, non-cancer diseases are not considered as health risks following exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation. Indeed, non-cancer diseases are classified as deterministic tissue reactions, which are characterized by a threshold dose. It is judged that below an absorbed dose of 100 mGy, no clinical relevant tissue damage occurs, forming the basis for the current radiation protection system concerning non-cancer effects. Recent epidemiological findings point, however, to an excess risk of non-cancer diseases following exposure to lower doses than previously thought. The evidence is the most sound for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cataract. Due to limited statistical power the dose-risk relationship is undetermined below 0.5 Gy, but if this relationship proves to be without a threshold it may have considerable impact on current low dose health risk estimates. In this review, we describe the CVD risk related to low doses of ionizing radiation, the clinical manifestation and pathology of radiation-induced CVD, and the importance of the endothelium models in CVD research as a way forward to complement the epidemiological data with the underlying biological and molecular mechanisms. In addition, with our research we aim to contribute to the identification of potent countermeasures as well as a set of predictive biomarkers for radiation-induced cardiovascular disorders. As such we strive for a better life quality for ionizing radiation exposed people.
AB - Traditionally, non-cancer diseases are not considered as health risks following exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation. Indeed, non-cancer diseases are classified as deterministic tissue reactions, which are characterized by a threshold dose. It is judged that below an absorbed dose of 100 mGy, no clinical relevant tissue damage occurs, forming the basis for the current radiation protection system concerning non-cancer effects. Recent epidemiological findings point, however, to an excess risk of non-cancer diseases following exposure to lower doses than previously thought. The evidence is the most sound for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and cataract. Due to limited statistical power the dose-risk relationship is undetermined below 0.5 Gy, but if this relationship proves to be without a threshold it may have considerable impact on current low dose health risk estimates. In this review, we describe the CVD risk related to low doses of ionizing radiation, the clinical manifestation and pathology of radiation-induced CVD, and the importance of the endothelium models in CVD research as a way forward to complement the epidemiological data with the underlying biological and molecular mechanisms. In addition, with our research we aim to contribute to the identification of potent countermeasures as well as a set of predictive biomarkers for radiation-induced cardiovascular disorders. As such we strive for a better life quality for ionizing radiation exposed people.
KW - paper in BVS Annals
KW - ionizing radiation
KW - cardiovascular system
UR - http://ecm.sckcen.be/OTCS/llisapi.dll/open/28200805
M3 - Article
VL - 2017
JO - Annalen van de Belgische Vereniging voor Sralingsbescherming
JF - Annalen van de Belgische Vereniging voor Sralingsbescherming
IS - 4
ER -