| Radiation proctitis
is a known complication of radiation therapy for
prostate cancer. Commercially available treatments
are often ineffective and have focused on relieving
symptoms after damage has occurred, although options
exist for prevention.
A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled,
double-blinded trial concluded that misoprostol
rectal suppositories significantly reduce
acute and chronic radiation proctitis symptoms
in patients receiving radiation therapy for prostate
cancer.
Am J Gastroenterol 2000 Aug;95(8):1961-6
A prospective randomized placebo-controlled
double-blinded pilot study of misoprostol rectal
suppositories in the prevention of acute and chronic
radiation proctitis symptoms in prostate cancer
patients.
Khan AM, Birk JW, Anderson JC, Georgsson
M, Park TL, Smith CJ, Comer GM.
Department of Radiation Oncology, State University
of New York Hospital at Stony Brook, 11794-8173,
USA.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.
Seven patients with radiation proctitis completed
an open pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness
of short chain fatty acid (SCFA) enemas. Four
weeks of treatment resulted in clinical improvement
in all patients, and modest changes in endoscopic
and pathological parameters.
Am J Gastroenterol. 1996 Sep;91(9):1814-6
Evaluation of short-chain fatty acid enemas: treatment
of radiation proctitis.
al-Sabbagh R, Sinicrope FA, Sellin JH,
Shen Y, Roubein L.
Division of Gastroenterology, University of Texas
Medical School, Houston, USA.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.
Topical sucralfate may induce a lasting remission
in a majority of patients with moderate to severe
rectal bleeding due to radiation proctosigmoiditis.
Dig Dis Sci 1999 May;44(5):973-8
Natural history of late radiation proctosigmoiditis
treated with topical sucralfate suspension.
Kochhar R, Sriram PV, Sharma SC, Goel
RC, Patel F
Department of Gastroenterology, Postgraduate Institute
of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh,
India.
Click here to access the PubMed abstract of this article.
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