HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Exploring a link between fatigue and intestinal injury during pelvic radiotherapy.

AbstractBACKGROUND:
The association between cancer-related fatigue and pathological processes in the body is largely unknown. This study was designed to investigate a possible linkage between fatigue and intestinal injury during pelvic radiotherapy.
METHODS:
Twenty-nine women undergoing pelvic radiotherapy for anal or uterine cancer were prospectively followed. Fatigue and diarrhea were assessed using patient self-reported questionnaires. Plasma citrulline concentration, as a sign of intestinal injury, and C-reactive protein, orosomucoid, albumin, α(1)-antitrypsin, and haptoglobin, as signs of systemic inflammation, were analyzed.
RESULTS:
Fatigue increased significantly (p < .001) and citrulline decreased significantly (p < .001) during treatment. A significant negative correlation (r = -0.40; p < .05) was found between fatigue and epithelial atrophy in the intestine (as assessed by plasma citrulline) after 3 weeks of treatment and a significant positive correlation (r = 0.75; p < .001) was found between fatigue and diarrhea. Signs of systemic inflammation were evident, with significant increases in serum orosomucoid, serum haptoglobin (p < .05) and serum α(1)-antitrypsin (p < .001) and a significant decrease in serum albumin (p < .001).
CONCLUSION:
The present study indicates a link between fatigue and intestinal injury during pelvic radiotherapy. This observation should be considered as a preliminary finding because of the small sample size but may serve as a rationale for therapeutic interventions aimed at alleviating both fatigue and gastrointestinal symptoms during pelvic radiotherapy.
AuthorsSofie Jakobsson, Karin Ahlberg, Charles Taft, Tor Ekman
JournalThe oncologist (Oncologist) Vol. 15 Issue 9 Pg. 1009-15 ( 2010) ISSN: 1549-490X [Electronic] England
PMID20667967 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Orosomucoid
  • Citrulline
  • C-Reactive Protein
Topics
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • C-Reactive Protein (analysis)
  • Citrulline (blood)
  • Diarrhea (etiology)
  • Fatigue (etiology)
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intestines (radiation effects)
  • Middle Aged
  • Orosomucoid (analysis)
  • Pelvis (radiation effects)
  • Prospective Studies
  • Uterine Neoplasms (radiotherapy)

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: