Nefrologia

Dialysis patients and risk for high radiation exposure

A large number of dialysis patients are at increased risk of cancer due to high radiation doses, and doctors should think about reducing these patients' levels of radiation exposure, a new study suggests. The researchers noted that many kidney disease patients who are receiving dialysis also have other health conditions that require them to undergo radiation procedures for diagnosis and treatment, resulting in high doses of radiation over an extended period of time. The study, from researchers at University Hospital "Maggiore della Carita," in Novara, Italy, included 106 dialysis patients whose exposure to radiation from medical procedures was assessed for an average of three years. Overall, 22 patients received low doses of radiation each year, 51 received moderate doses, 22 received high doses and 11 received very high doses. In addition, the investigators found that exposure to radiation at levels that have been associated with a substantial increase in the risk of cancer-related death were noted among 17 of the patients.
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