The protective effect of amifostine on radiation-induced acute pulmonary toxicity: detection by (99m)Tc-DTPA transalveolar clearances.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine by using (99m)Tc-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) lung scintigraphy whether amifostine given before irradiation protects alveolocapillary integrity in a rabbit model.


METHODS
Twenty white New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups: (1) control (CONT), (2) amifostine alone (AMF), (3) radiation (RAD), and (4) radiation plus amifostine (RAD+AMF). The AMF and RAD+AMF groups received amifostine. The RAD and RAD+AMF groups were irradiated to the right hemithorax with a single dose of 20 Gy using a (60)Co treatment unit. Amifostine (200 mg/kg) was given i.p. 30 min before irradiation. The (99m)Tc-DTPA radioaerosol study was performed 14 day after irradiation.


RESULTS
The mean clearance rate of (99m)Tc-DTPA in control subjects was 140 +/- 21 min. The highest t((1/2)) value was noted in the RAD group (603 +/- 105 min, p = 0.001). There were no significant differences between the (99m)Tc-DTPA lung clearance rates of the CONT, RAD+AMF (238 +/- 24 min), and AMF groups (227 +/- 54 min). The mean penetration index values of CONT, RAD, AMF, and RAD+AMF are 63% +/- 1.6%, 63% +/- 2.5%, 60% +/- 2.9%, and 63% +/- 2%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that amifostine treatment before the lung irradiation protects the lung alveolocapillary integrity. This study confirms the protective effect of amifostine in an acute phase of radiation lung injury.
Uzal
Cem
C
Department of Radiation Oncology, Trakya University Medical Faculty, Edirne, Turkey. cemuzal@yahoo.com
Durmus-Altun
Gulay
G
Caloglu
Murat
M
Ergülen
Alev
A
Altaner
Semsi
S
Yigitbasi
N Omer
NO
D004999:Amifostine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D011817:Rabbits; D011833:Radiation Injuries, Experimental / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D011897:Random Allocation; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D011837:Radiation-Protective Agents; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D004999:Amifostine; D016284:Technetium Tc 99m Pentetate