title: Therapy of ankylosing spondylitis with 224Ra-radium chloride: dosimetry and risk considerations.
abstract: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease which reduces the quality of life and leads to disability in approximately one-third of the patients. The spectrum of therapeutic modalities is limited. The renaissance of the use of (224)Ra-radium chloride for AS treatment, however, gives rise to concern which should result in the reconsideration of (224)Ra dosimetry and in the discussion of the risks associated with this treatment. The present study introduces new dosimetric calculations for alpha and beta/gamma rays performed according to the model proposed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). After a treatment schedule of 10 intravenous injections, each with 1 MBq of (224)Ra, the absorbed doses were calculated to be highest on the bone surface of the patient (4.4 Gy) with a resulting effective dose of 2.5 Sv.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany. lassmann@nuklearmedizin.uni-wuerzburg.de
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lassmann
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nosske
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reiners
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000512:Alpha Particles; D001610:Beta Particles; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D011883:Radium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000378:metabolism / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D013910:Thorium; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C026062:thorium X; D013910:Thorium; D011883:Radium