The radiation-induced heart disease (RIHD) is a progressive disorder induced by radiation, which may take years or decades to manifest. It can affect various structures of the heart, with a series of cardiac complications. In recent years, it is reported that the heart damage caused by the conventional chest radiotherapy, especially the delayed type of myocardial injuries becomes very serious under the control of the normal tissue tolerance dose. The RIHD can increase the heart stiffness, decrease the myocardial systolic and diastolic functions, resulting in the myocardial electrophysiological dysfunction, the arrhythmia, the heart failure and the sudden death. At present, there is still a lack of effective treatment for the RIHD, the basic reason is that the causes and pathogenesis of the RIHD promoted chronic heart failure from early asymptomatic condition have not been fully clarified. This paper reviews the role of the DNA damage and the oxidative stress in the RIHD to help the prevention and treatment of the RIHD.

radiation-induced heart disease  /  ionizing radiation  /  DNA damage response  /  reactive oxygen species