Many drugs affect lipid metabolism and have side effects which promote atherosclerosis. The prevalence of cancer-therapy-related cardiovascular (CV) disease is increasing due to development of new drugs and improved survival of patients: cardio-oncology is a new field of interest and research. Moreover, drugs used in transplanted patients frequently have metabolic implications. Increasingly, internists, lipidologists, and angiologists are being consulted by haematologists for side effects on metabolism (especially lipid metabolism) and arterial circulation caused by drugs used in haematology. The purpose of this article is to review the main drugs used in haematology with side effects on lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis, detailing their mechanisms of action and suggesting the most effective therapies.
Keywords: atherosclerosis; haematological drugs; hypercholesterolemia; hypertriglyceridaemia; lipid metabolism; side effects; vasculopathy.