Prevention of radiation pneumonitis from inhaled $sup 144$Ce by lung lavage in beagle dogs

Journal Article · Sun Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1975 · Am. Rev. Respir. Dis., v. 111, no. 6, pp. 795-802

OSTI ID:4031266

Muggenburg, B A; Mauderly, J L; Boecker, B B; Hahn, F F; McClellan, R O

This study was performed to evaluate bronchopulmonary lavage and chelation therapy as a treatment method to prevent the development of radiation pneumonitis after inhalation of a radioactive aerosol. Twelve beagle dogs were exposed to an aerosol of cerium-144 in fused clay particles resulting in initial lung burdens from 47 to 64 $mu$Ci of $sup 144$Ce per kg of body weight. Eight of the dogs were treated with a series of 10 bronchopulmonary lavages and 10 intravenous injections of calcium diethylenetriamine pentaacetate acid during the first 56 days after exposure to remove the deposited $sup 144$Ce; the remaining 4 exposed dogs received no treatment. An additional 4 dogs were exposed to stable cerium and were given the course of treatment as an additional control group. Three of the 4 untreated dogs and 2 of the 8 treated dogs died 171 to 246 days after exposure with radiation pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis, or both. All but one of the remaining dogs were alive and apparently in good clinical health 550 days after exposure; the one dog had radiographic indications of pulmonary fibrosis by 365 days after exposure. The relative distribution of $sup 144$Ce in the lungs and other major organs was similar in the treated and untreated dogs that died. (auth)

• Research Organization: Inhalation Toxicology Research Inst., Albuquerque, NM
• NSA Number: NSA-33-026309
• OSTI ID: 4031266
• Journal Information: Am. Rev. Respir. Dis., v. 111, no. 6, pp. 795-802, Other Information: Orig. Receipt Date: 30-JUN-76
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

N48620* -Life Sciences-Radionuclide Effects (Internal Source)-Animals
560162* -Biomedical Sciences
Applied Studies-Radiation Effects-Radionuclide Effects-Internal Source-Animals
*LUNGS- BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
*PNEUMONITIS- RADIOINDUCTION
BEAGLES
CERIUM 144
DTPA
INHALATION
LAVAGE
POST-IRRADIATION THERAPY
RADIOACTIVE AEROSOLS