Low dose radiation therapy as a potential life saving treatment for COVID-19-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

The recent outbreak of the new corona virus (SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19) has spread throughout the globe at an alarming rate, with many countries being scientifically, medically, economically, socially, and/or politically unprepared to meet and respond to the pandemic threat. The clinical spectrum of COVID-19 ranges from an asymptomatic form to mild respiratory symptoms such as dry cough, fever, and moderate dyspnea, to more severe presentations, such as neurologic manifestations (e.g.- cerebrovascular accident consequential to cytokine-induced changes in blood clotting; direct encephalitic effects), viral pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and sequential organ failure (SOF) as result of cytokine storm.
Source: Radiotherapy and Oncology - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: COVID-19 Rapid Communication Source Type: research