Radioidine therapy temporarily increases circulating endothelial cells and decreases endothelial progenitor cells

Barbara Palumbo; Renato Palumbo; Helmut Sinzinger

Vol 6, No 2 (2003)

Submitted: 2012-01-23

Published online: 2003-10-10

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Radioidine therapy temporarily increases circulating endothelial cells and decreases endothelial progenitor cells

Barbara Palumbo, Renato Palumbo, Helmut Sinzinger

Nucl. Med. Rev 2003;6(2):123-126.

Vol 6, No 2 (2003)

Submitted: 2012-01-23

Published online: 2003-10-10

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Radiotherapy can cause vascular injury. No data on radioiodine therapy and vascular damage are available.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined the number of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) and circulating endothelial progenitor cells (CEPC) before therapy 1, 2, 3 and 5 days as well as 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks after therapy with ¹³¹I at doses ranging from 5–200 mCi. The individual number of CEC and CEPC is associated with the presence of risk factors.
RESULTS: Irrespective of prevalues, CEC exhibited a significant dose-dependent temporary increase reaching the maximum in weeks 1 and 2. In contrast, CEPC show a decrease at the same time.
CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that ¹³¹I-therapy induces a dose-dependent radiation injury at the vascular wall level enhancing endothelial desquamation and reducing reendothelialization and thereby a proatherogenic stage. The clinical consequence of these findings still needs to be assessed.