Medical management of radiation injuries: current approaches.

Abstract

The current approach to medical management of irradiated patients begins with early diagnosis of radiation injury. Medical assessment of radiation dose is based on event history, symptomatology and laboratory results, with emphasis on time to emesis and lymphocyte depletion kinetics. Dose assessment provides a basis for early use of haematopoietic growth factors that can shorten the period of neutropaenia for patients with acute radiation syndrome. Assessments of haematopoietic, gastrointestinal and cutaneous syndromes have improved in recent years, but treatment options remain limited. Selected examples of current developments are presented.

• Authors: M E Berger, D M Christensen, P C Lowry, O W Jones, A L Wiley
• Journal: Occupational medicine (Oxford, England) (Occup Med (Lond)) Vol. 56 Issue 3 Pg. 162-72 (May 2006) ISSN: 0962-7480 [Print] England
• PMID: 16641501 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Review)

Chemical References

• Colony-Stimulating Factors

Topics

• Accidents, Occupational
• Colony-Stimulating Factors (therapeutic use)
• Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
• Humans
• Opportunistic Infections (therapy)
• Radiation Dosage
• Radiation Injuries (diagnosis, etiology, therapy)
• Radioactive Hazard Release