Does sucralfate reduce early side effects of pelvic radiation? A double-blind randomized trial.
STUDY AND METHODS: A double-blind placebo-controlled study randomized 108 patients to investigate the effect of sucralfate on gastrointestinal side effects of pelvic radiation.


RESULTS
Overall, pelvic radiation with the administered doses and fields and performed according to nowadays technical standards, was well tolerated. Comparison of the mean scores and the peak reactions for radiotherapy discomfort, diarrhoea and number of stools per day in the 80 evaluable patients showed no statistically significant difference between sucralfate and placebo.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on these results, the use of sucralfate can not be recommended as standard practice.
Stellamans
Karin
K
Department of Radiotherapy, University Hospital Leuven, UZ Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
Lievens
Yolande
Y
Lambin
Philippe
P
Van den Weyngaert
Danielle
D
Van den Bogaert
Walter
W
Scalliet
Pierre
P
Hutsebaut
Liesbeth
L
Haustermans
Karin
K
D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D020266:Radiotherapy, Conformal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013392:Sucralfate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D013392:Sucralfate