title: Prevention of acute radiation enteritis: efficacy and tolerance of glutamine.
abstract: PURPOSE Our primary endpoint is to determine the effect of L-glutamine Resource (Nestlé Healthcare Nutrition) in the prevention of induced enteritis after pelvic radiotherapy (RT). METHODS We observed the incidence of diarrhoea during and after pelvic radiation therapy in patients receiving L-glutamine Resource (Nestlé Healthcare Nutrition) supplementation. To assess results, patients were stratified according to prior treatment (prior surgery and/or concomitant chemotherapy, or no prior or concomitant treatment). RESULTS Incidence of diarrhoea observed is similar to published series in which glutamine is not administered. Grade 1 intestinal toxicity was observed in 4 patients (15.4%), grade 2 in 10 patients (38.4%) and grade 3 in 5 patients (19.2%). Mean dose of RT at the start of enteritis was 23.55 Gy (12-40). No grade 4 toxicity occurred and in 7 patients (27%) no toxicity was reported. No differences in toxicity incidence were observed between RT dose levels. CONCLUSIONS Administration of glutamine to patients during pelvic RT does not appear to prevent the incidence of enteritis (diarrhoea). No differences were observed between patients who underwent concomitant chemotherapy (where you would expect an increase in toxicity) and those who did not.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Hospital de l'Esperança, Barcelona, Spain. imembrive@imas.imim.es
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Membrive Conejo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reig Castillejo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rodríguez de Dios
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Foro Arnalot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sanz Latiesas
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lozano Galán
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lacruz Bassols
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quera Jordana
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernández-Velilla Cepria
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Algara López
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059248:Chemoradiotherapy; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005973:Glutamine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D008875:Middle Aged; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D005973:Glutamine; D002945:Cisplatin; D005472:Fluorouracil