Radiation injury medical therapy
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Localized injuries should be treated symptomatically as they occur, and radiation injury experts should be consulted for detailed information. Such information can be obtained from the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS) at www.orau.gov/reacts/ or (865) 576-1005.
As with ARS, if the patient also has other trauma, wounds should be closed, burns covered, fractures reduced, surgical stabilization performed, and definitive treatment given within the first 48 hours after injury. After 48 hours, surgical interventions should be delayed until hematopoietic recovery has occurred.
A baseline CBC and differential should be taken and repeated in 24 hours. Because cutaneous radiation injury is cyclic, areas of early erythema should be noted and recorded. These areas should also be sketched and photographed, if possible, ensuring that the date and time are recorded.
Medical Therapy
Cutaneous Radiation Injury
Initial Treatment
The following should be initiated as indicated:
- Supportive care in a clean environment (a burn unit if one is available)
- Prevention and treatment of infections
- Use of the following:
- Medications to reduce inflammation, inhibit protealysis, relieve pain, stimulate regeneration, and improve circulation
- Anticoagulant agents for widespread and deep injury
- Pain management
- Psychological support
Recommendations for Treatment by Stage
The following recommendations for treatment by stage of the illness were obtained by summarizing recommendations from Ricks et al. (226) and Gusev et al. (231), but they do not represent official recommendations of CDC.
- Prodromal Stage —Use antihistamines and topical antipruriginous preparations, which act against itch and also might prevent or attenuate initiation of the cycle that leads to the manifestation stage. Anti-inflammatory medications such as corticosteroids and topical creams, as well as slight sedatives, may prove useful.
- Latent Stage —Continue anti-inflammatory medications and sedatives. At midstage, use proteolysis inhibitors, such as Gordox®.
- Manifestation Stage —Use repeated swabs, antibiotic prophylaxis, and anti-inflammatory medications, such as Lioxasol®, to reduce bacterial, fungal, and viral infections
- Apply topical ointments containing corticosteroids along with locally acting antibiotics and vitamins.
- Stimulate regeneration of DNA by using Lioxasol® and later, when regeneration has started, biogenic drugs, such as Actovegin® and Solcoseril®.
- Stimulate blood supply in third or fourth week using Pentoxifylline® (contraindicated for patients with atherosclerotic heart disease).
- Puncture blisters if they are sterile, but do not remove them as long as they are intact.
- Stay alert for wound infection. Antibiotic therapy should be considered according to the individual patient's condition.
- Treat pain according to the individual patient's condition. Pain relief is very difficult and is the most demanding part of the therapeutic process.
- Debride areas of necrosis thoroughly but cautiously.
Treatment of Late Effects
After immediate treatment of radiation injury, an often long and painful process of healing will ensue. The most important concerns are the following:
- Pain management
- Fibrosis or late ulcers
Note : Use of medication to stimulate vascularization, inhibit infection, and reduce fibrosis may be effective. Examples include Pentoxifylline®, vitamin E, and interferon gamma.
- Psychological effects, such as post-traumatic stress disorder
- Possibility of increased risk of skin cancer later in life
Acute Radiation Syndrome
Triage: If radiation exposure is suspected:
- Secure ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation) and physiologic monitoring (blood pressure, blood gases, electrolyte and urine output) as appropriate.
- Treat major trauma, burns and respiratory injury if evident.
- In addition to the blood samples required to address the trauma, obtain blood samples for CBC (complete blood count), with attention to lymphocyte count, and HLA (human leukocyte antigen) typing prior to any initial transfusion and at periodic intervals following transfusion.
- Treat contamination as needed.
- If exposure occurred within 8 to 12 hours, repeat CBC, with attention to lymphocyte count, 2 or 3 more times (approximately every 2 to 3 hours) to assess lymphocyte depletion.
Initial Treatment and Diagnostic Evaluation
Treat vomiting, and repeat CBC analysis, with special attention to the lymphocyte count, every 2 to 3 hours for the first 8 to 12 hours following exposure (and every 4 to 6 hours for the following 2 or 3 days). Sequential changes in absolute lymphocyte counts over time are demonstrated below in the Andrews Lymphocyte Nomogram (see Figure 1). Precisely record all clinical symptoms, particularly nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and itching, reddening or blistering of the skin. Be sure to include time of onset.
Note and record areas of erythema. If possible, take color photographs of suspected radiation skin damage. Consider tissue, blood typing, and initiating viral prophylaxis. Promptly consult with radiation, hematology, and radiotherapy experts about dosimetry, prognosis, and treatment options. Call the Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS) at (865) 576-3131 (M-F, 8 am to 4:30 am EST) or (865) 576-1005 (after hours) to record the incident in the Radiation Accident Registry System.
After consultation, begin the following (as indicated):
- Supportive care in a clean environment (if available, the use of a burn unit may be quite effective)
- Prevention and treatment of infections
- Stimulation of hematopoiesis by use of growth factors
- Stem cell transfusions or platelet transfusions (if platelet count is too low)
- Psychological support
- Careful observation for erythema (document locations), hair loss, skin injury, mucositis, parotitis, weight loss, or fever
- Consultation with experts in radiation accident management.