Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2016. Vol. 61. No. 1. P. 34-40

RADIATION MEDICINE

Yu.V. Semenova^1,2, A.B. Karpov^1,3, R.M. Takhauov^1,3, E.G. Borisova¹, D.E. Maximov^1,3, A.B. Trivozhenko¹, E.V. Kovalchuk¹

Structural and Functional Changes of Vascular System in Individuals Exposed to Occupational Irradiation of Low Intensity

1. Seversk Biophysical Research Center of the FMBA of Russia, Seversk, Russia, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; 2. Siberian Federal Research and Clinical Center of the FMBA of Russia, Seversk, Russia; 3. Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk, Russia

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To study the condition of vascular system in employees of nuclear industry exposed to long-term occupational irradiation in a range of low doses.

Material and methods: The object of study is the group of employees of the Siberian Chemical Enterprises, exposed to long-term occupational irradiation (n = 93). Among the employees (44-45 years old) a group of individuals, whose duration of occupational activity was not less than 3 years, was formed by means of randomization. For each person the 65 parameters including the social status characteristics, information on main risk factors, biochemical indices, main clinical data and cumulative dose of the external exposure were evaluated. Using the sphygmograph VaSera VS-1500N (Japan) the following parameters of computer sphygmomanometry in the employees were analyzed : pulse and medium arterial pressure, aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV), cardio ankle vascular index (CAVI), anklebrachial pressure index (ABI).

Results: 48 people had hypertension of 1-2 degrees, 47 people had abdominal obesity, 81 people had dyslipidemia of the total number surveyed. Employees exposed to low levels of radiation did not have asymmetric occlusive and stenosing lesions of arterial system of the upper and lower limbs were not detected. The value of PWV and CAVI characterizing real vascular rigidity did not differ statistically and significantly in the compared groups (health individuals: patients with arterial hypertension; individuals with normal weight and individuals with obesity). Only patients with the second degree of arterial hypertension had the tendency of increasing of vascular rigidity. Perhaps this is due to the protective effect of low doses of ionizing radiation on the vascular wall. Methods of computer Sphygmometria complements the protocol of the periodic medical staff examination of radiation-hazardous facilities. If there are conventional risk factors for the progression of hypertension, occupational exposure is not a significant factor in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Conclusion: The analysis of computer sphygmomanometry parameters did not detect the negative influence of the external exposure in the studied dose range on the vascular wall in the individuals exposed to the occupational irradiation (external γ-radiation). Arterial hypertension pathogenesis of the able-bodied men of 44-55 years old was mainly connected with the increase in body size, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, elevation of vascular rigidity.

Key words: occupational irradiation, low doses, arterial hypertension, risk factors, vascular rigidity, computer sphygmomanometry

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For citation: Semenova YuV, Karpov AB, Takhauov RM, Borisova EG, Maximov DE, Trivozhenko AB, Kovalchuk E.V. Structural and Functional Changes of Vascular System in Individuals Exposed to Occupational Irradiation of Low Intensity. Medical Radiology and Radiation Safety. 2016;61(1):34-40. Russian.

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