Cedars-Sinai study links radiation therapy to pulmonary hypertension

A study published in Thorax has provided the first clinical evidence linking cardiopulmonary radiation doses to the development of pulmonary hypertension in humans. Researchers found that lung cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy to the chest may face an increased risk of this condition, which affects the arteries carrying blood from the right side of the heart to the lungs.

Data from patients at Cedars-Sinai, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute revealed that 12% of patients experienced pulmonary hypertension. The study specifically noted that the condition was associated with radiation doses to the pulmonary artery, rather than other areas of the heart or lungs. If left unmanaged, the heightened pressure can lead to right-sided heart failure, causing heart strain and shortness of breath.