The reduction of radiation damage to the spinal cord by post-irradiation administration of vasoactive drugs

The Management of Radiation-Induced Brain Injury

“…45 Hornsey et al hypothesized that treating rats with the ironchelating agent desferrioxamine would reduce hydroxyl-mediated reperfusion-related injury in the irradiated spinal cord. 46 Rats were fed a low-iron diet from 85 days after local spinal cord irradiation and received desferrioxamine (30 mg in 0.3 mL, sc, 3 times/week) from day 120, the time at which changes in vascular permeability were noted. The onset of ataxia due to white matter necrosis was delayed and the incidence of lesions was reduced after single doses of 25 and 27 Gy.…”

Biologische Präventions- und/oder Therapiemöglichkeiten der Strahlenmyelopathie Eine Diskussion neuer Perspektiven

“…Hornsey et al[21] zeigten, daß die Gabe vasoaktiver Pharmaka (begonnen 17 Wochen nach Einzeitbestrahlung) bei Ratten nach höheren Dosen das Intervall bis zum Auftreten von Symptomen einer Strahlenmyelopathie verlängern und im niedrigeren Dosisbereich sogar die Symptomrate reduzieren kann[21]. Auch Eingriffe in das oligodendrogliale Kompartment via intrathekaler Zytokinapplikation können bei Ratten die Latenzzeit modulieren und nach Einzeitbestrahlung mit 15 Gy zu einer signifikanten Vermehrung der O-2A-Progenitorzellen im Vergleich zu nur bestrahlten oder NaCl-behandelten Kontrollen führen (eigene unpublizierte Ergebnisse).…”

The modulation of radiation-induced damage to pig skin by essential fatty acids

“…Recent studies wtih various agents, which might be termed BRMs, have demonstrated significant amelioration of radiation-induced normal tissue morbidity. These include the use of Captopril an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE), effective in reducing radiation damage to skin (Ward et al, 1990), lung (Ward et al, 1992) and kidney (Robbins & Hopewell, 1986); Dipyrimidazole and Desferrioxamine in the spinal cord (Hornsey et al, 1990), and Pentoxifylline (PTX) in cutaneous tissue (Dion et al, 1989). PTX has been shown to be of significant clinical benefit in the treatment of late-induced radiation soft tissue necrosis (Dion et al, 1990).…”