What causes cardiovascular problems after a transplant?
Total body radiation, center of chest radiation and chemotherapy drugs called anthracyclines appear to be the main causes of post-transplant cardiovascular problems. Some examples of anthracycline drugs are aclarubicin (Aclacinomycin A), daunorubicin (Cerubidine), doxorubicin (Adriamycin), epirubicin (Ellence), and pirarubicin (THP). Novantrone (mitoxantrone), even though not a pure anthracycline drug, also is thought to have some cardiotoxicity. Certain after-effects of the transplant can also contribute to an increase in risk of cardiovascular disease. GVHD disease may cause inflammation in the circulatory system, which may lead to arteriosclerosis. Some of the medications used to treat GVHD may also cause problems with excess weight gain, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Metabolic syndrome, a clustering of various traits, is twice as common in transplant patients as in the general population and greatly increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
