A study published in ScienceDirect reports on a novel treatment of 25 patients with proven Covid-19 pneumonia. All patients diagnosis was proven with an RT-PCR test, had SpO2 less than 94% on room air and a respiratory frequency of less than 24 per minute. Patients were treated in accordance with standard Covid-19 guidelines and received a single fraction of low dose radiation therapy (LDRT) of 0.5 Gy to both lungs within 10 days of the onset of symptoms and/or 5 days of hospital admission.
LDRT was well tolerated by all patients. A significant improvement in oxygenation was noted. Demand for supplemental oxygen showed also a significant reduction in the post-RT period with 88% recovering completely with 10 days and being discharged from the hospital in 6 days. Three patients deteriorated and died.
The authors concluded that based on their initial experience, LDRT is a promising treatment in a select group of patients with moderate to severe Covid-19 pneumonia and should be further investigated by a larger series.
