title: Medical management of radiation injuries: current approaches.
abstract: The current approach to medical management of irradiated patients begins with early diagnosis of radiation injury. Medical assessment of radiation dose is based on event history, symptomatology and laboratory results, with emphasis on time to emesis and lymphocyte depletion kinetics. Dose assessment provides a basis for early use of haematopoietic growth factors that can shorten the period of neutropaenia for patients with acute radiation syndrome. Assessments of haematopoietic, gastrointestinal and cutaneous syndromes have improved in recent years, but treatment options remain limited. Selected examples of current developments are presented.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS), PO Box 117, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0117, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Berger
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Lowry
authors.forename: O W
authors.initials: OW
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Wiley
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000628:therapy; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release
chemical_list: D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors