Graft irradiation in the treatment of acute rejection of renal transplants: a randomized study

Journal Article · Sat May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1982 · Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0360-3016(82)90084-0· OSTI ID:6716722

Pilepich, M V; Anderson, C B; Etheredge, E E; Sicard, G A; Melzer, J S; Blum, J

A randomized study of graft irradiation in the treatment of acute rejection of renal transplants was conducted from 1978 to 1981. Patients developing clinical signs of an acute graft rejection received customary antirejection treatment in the form of intravenous administration of high-dose (1 gm per day) of methylprednisolone. They were at the same time randomized to either receive therapeutic irradiation (175 rad every other day to a total of 525 rad) or sham irradiation. Neither the patient nor the Transplant Service surgeons knew at any time whether the radiation treatment had been given. Eighty-three rejection episodes occurring in 64 grafts were entered into the study. Acute rejection was reversed in 84.5% of grafts in the control and 75% in the treated group. The incidence of recurrent rejection was higher in the treated group (66 vs. 46%) and graft survival was lower (22% vs. 54%). The study failed to demonstrate a beneficial effect of graft irradiation in the treatment of acute renal allograft rejection, when used in conjunction with high dose steriods.

• Research Organization: Washington Univ. School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
• OSTI ID: 6716722
• Journal Information: Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol. Phys.; (United States), Vol. 8:5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
GRAFTS
LOCAL IRRADIATION
IMMUNOSUPPRESSION
RADIOINDUCTION
KIDNEYS
TRANSPLANTS
RADIOTHERAPY
EVALUATION
GRAFT-HOST REACTION
IONIZING RADIATIONS
PATIENTS
STEROIDS
BODY
IRRADIATION
MEDICINE
NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
RADIATIONS
RADIOLOGY
THERAPY
550603* - Medicine- External Radiation in Therapy- (1980-)