Arterial elasticity as a risk factor for early cardiovascular disease among testicular cancer survivors treated with platinum-based chemotherapy: a cross-sectional pilot study

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of cases and controls at a median follow-up time of 4.7 years after completion of platinum-based chemotherapy

Outcome*	Cases (n = 13)	Recruited controls (n = 17)	Historical controls (n = 16)
Age, years	30.2 (4.6)	27.1 (8.6)	34.5 (6.8)
Race/ethnicity, %
White	92.3	56.3^	43.8^
Others	7.7	43.8	56.3
Smoker	30.8	0^	37.5
Body mass index, kg/m^2	27.3 (8.0)	24.8 (3.6)	27.8 (4.8)
Systolic blood pressure, mmHg	124.5 (10.9)	113.4 (10.9)^	127.5 (12.7)
Diastolic blood pressure, mmHg	77.7 (9.9)	73.4 (5.8)	75.5 (9.0)
Testosterone, ng/mL^^	4.0 (2.5)	5.4 (1.6)	–
Free testosterone, pg/mL	11.4 (9.4)	16.5 (5.9)	–
Total cholesterol, mg/dL	178.2 (45.4)	168.4 (39.6)	187.9 (40.6)
HDL, mg/dL	43.0 (15.6)	47.4 (9.4)	51.4 (13.6)
LDL, mg/dL	106.4 (43.7)	97.1 (27.8)	112.4 (13.6)
Triglycerides, mg/dL	152.6 (124.5)	119.7 (90.7)	120.7 (54.9)
Metabolic syndrome**, %	15.6	5.9	n/a

Notes:

* Outcomes are summarized as mean (SD) or percentage.

** Metabolic syndrome was calculated as percentage of individuals with triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL, HDL ≤40 mg/dL, elevated blood pressure >130/85 mmHg, and fasting glucose ≥100 mg/dL (central obesity unavailable).

^ Statistically significant difference as compared to cases;

^^ institutional normal values were as follows: testosterone: 1.9–9.0 ng/mL; free testosterone: 4.5–42.0 ng/mL.

Abbreviations: HDL, high-density lipoprotein; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; n/a, not applicable.

Figure 1 Distribution of LAE and SAE index values by disease status.

Note: Individual patient data (circle; average of 3 measures) and median (line) are presented. (A) LAE index; (B) SAE index.
Abbreviations: LAE, large artery elasticity; SAE, small artery elasticity.

Table 2 Primary measurements of vascular endothelium

Outcome	Testicular cancer survivors (N = 13)		Recruited controls (N = 17)		p-value*
	N	Median (Min–Max)	N	Median (Min–Max)
Inflammation
hsCRP	13	1140 (41–33882)	17	731 (81–13294))	0.344
White blood cells	13	5.5 (3.1–9.1)	17	5.2 (3.5–7.0)	0.379
Hemostasis
Fibrinogen	13	1571 (380–3736)	17	1876 (608–2821)	0.178
Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1	13	3108 (2342–3772)	17	2835 (1679–4162)	0.433
t-PA	13	19.5 (12.1–137.1)	17	28.2 (11.4–60.3)	0.143
Endothelial damage
vWF	8	6.3 (0.6)	15	7.6 (0.3–33.9)	0.750
CECs	13	1.0 (0.0–8.0)	17	1.0 (0.0–11.0)	0.714
Surface VCAM-1	13	67 (0–100)	16	67 (0–100)	0.616
Surface P-selectin	13	40 (13–83)	17	60 (20–100)	0.202
Soluble VCAM-1	13	1300 (557–1592)	17	995 (542–2168)	0.868
Soluble P-selectin	13	42.0 (29.7–54.4)	17	41.6 (34.4–63.7)	0.709

Note:

* Wilcoxon rank-sum test (nonparametric); no adjustment.

Abbreviations: CEC, circulating endothelial cell; hsCRP, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein; Max, maximum; Min, minimum; t-PA, tissue-type plasminogen activator; VCAM, vascular cell adhesion molecule; vWF, von Willebrand factor.