Title:Clinical Therapy of Patients Contaminated with Polonium or Plutonium
Volume: 28
Issue: 35
Author(s): Jan Aaseth*, Valeria Marina Nurchi and Ole Andersen
Affiliation:
- Research Department, Innlandet Hospital Trust, 2381 Brumunddal,Norway
Keywords:
DTPA, DMSA, polonium, plutonium, actinides, chelating agents.
Abstract: Although most of the harmful radionuclides are of anthropogenic origin and released
from military or industrial processes, radioactive substances, such as uranium, also
occur naturally in the environment. Low standards of care at nuclear facilities can lead
to the contamination of employees with radionuclides due to inhalation of gases or dust
or contamination of skin or wounds. Various sources for radionuclide exposure may present
concerns for radioactive polonium or plutonium exposure, for instance, terrorist actions
on the infrastructure, such as on drinking water basins. Early health effects after extensive
radiation exposure may be vomiting, headaches, and fatigue, followed by bone
marrow depression, fever, and diarrhea. The main purpose of radionuclide mobilization
is to minimize the radiation dose. Since some of the important radionuclides, such as
polonium and plutonium, have very long biological half-times after their deposition in
bone, liver or kidneys, rapid initiation of chelation treatment is usually imperative after a
contamination event. The antidote DMPS (dimercapto-propanesulfonate) is considered
the drug of choice for polonium decorporation. DTPA (diethylenetriamine pentaacetate)
is a potent chelator especially approved for radionuclide mobilization, including polonium
and other actinides. Other chelators and drugs are under investigation as potential chelators
of transuranic elements.