Low-dose whole-lung radiation for COVID-19 pneumonia: Planned day 7 interim analysis of a registered clinical trial.
Clayton B HessZachary S BuchwaldWilliam StokesTahseen H NastiJeffrey M SwitchenkoBrent D WeinbergJames P SteinbergKaren D GodetteDavid MurphyRafi AhmedWalter J CurranMohammad K KhanPublished in: Cancer (2020)
Researchers at Emory University report preliminary safety outcomes for patients treated with low-dose lung irradiation for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia. Five residents of nursing or group homes were hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19. Each had pneumonia visible on a chest x-ray, required supplemental oxygen, and experienced a clinical decline in mental status or in work of breathing or a prolonged or escalating supplemental oxygen requirement. A single treatment of low-dose (1.5-Gy) radiation to both lungs was delivered over the course of 10 to 15 minutes. There was no acute toxicity attributable to radiation therapy. Within 24 hours, 4 patients had rapidly improved breathing, and they recovered to room air at an average of 1.5 days (range, 3-96 hours). Three were discharged at a mean time of 12 days, and 1 was preparing for discharge. Blood tests and repeat imaging confirm that low-dose whole-lung radiation treatment appears safe for COVID-19 pneumonia. Further trials are warranted.
Keyphrases
- coronavirus disease
- low dose
- sars cov
- high dose
- respiratory failure
- clinical trial
- radiation therapy
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- radiation induced
- end stage renal disease
- mental health
- chronic kidney disease
- ejection fraction
- healthcare
- newly diagnosed
- oxidative stress
- randomized controlled trial
- type diabetes
- magnetic resonance imaging
- extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
- peritoneal dialysis
- hepatitis b virus
- rectal cancer
- metabolic syndrome
- acute respiratory distress syndrome
- patient reported outcomes
- locally advanced
- replacement therapy
- long term care
- glycemic control