Vascular ultrasound in the monitoring of vascular injury in patients after intravenous chemotherapy.

Abstract

This study investigated vascular injury incidence, symptoms, and changes in vascular wall thickness and blood flow in 140 chemotherapy patients. Vascular ultrasound and laboratory tests were conducted at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months post-chemotherapy. Results showed that vascular injury incidence increased over time (12.9% at 1 week, 25.0% at 1 month, 34.3% at 3 months, P<0.05). Vascular wall thickness (IMT) thickened from 0.61±0.11 mm at baseline to 0.85±0.22 mm at 3 months (P<0.01) and vascular diameter increased from 2.34±0.22 mm to 2.55±0.33 mm at 3 months (P<0.01). Severe phlebitis incidence rose from 2.9% at 1 week to 7.1% at 3 months (P<0.01). Elevated CRP and D-dimer levels correlated with increased vascular wall thickness and thrombosis. Enhanced monitoring and personalized interventions are needed to reduce complications. Combining ultrasound and laboratory markers can improve assessment of chemotherapy-induced vascular injury.