Low-dose radiotherapy (LD-RT) for COVID-19-induced pneumopathy: a worth considering approach

Abstract

Purpose

It seems that 2020 would be always remembered by the name of novel coronavirus (designated as SARS-CoV-2), which exerted its deteriorating effects on the health care, economy, education, and political relationships. In August 2020 more than eight hundred thousand patients lost their lives due to acute respiratory syndrome. In the limited list of therapeutic approaches, the effectiveness of low-dose radiation therapy (LD-RT) for curing inflammatory-related diseases have sparkled a light that probably this approach would bring promising advantages for COVID-19 patients. LD-RT owns its reputation from its ability to modulate the host inflammatory responses by blocking the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and hampering the activity of leukocytes. Moreover, the cost-effective and availability of this method allow it to be applied to a large number of patients, especially those who could not receive anti-IL-6 treatments in low-income countries. But enthusiasm for applying LD-RT for the treatment of COVID-19 patients has been muted yet.

Conclusion

In this review, we take a look at LD-RT mechanisms of action in the treatment of nonmalignant diseases, and then through studying both the dark and bright sides of this approach, we provide a thorough discussion if LD-RT might be a promising therapeutic approach in COVID-19 patients.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• Low-dose radiation therapy (LD-RT)
• Radiotherapy
• Anti-inflammation
• Therapeutic approach

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (Tehran, Iran) for supporting this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Fereshteh Koosha

Fereshteh Koosha, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor and medical physicist at the Department of Radiology Technology, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Atieh Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi

Atieh Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi, Ph.D. candidate in Medical Immunology at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Mohsen Bakhshandeh

Mohsen Bakhshandeh, Ph.D., is Associate Professor and medical physicist at the Department of Radiology Technology, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Davood Bashash

Davood Bashash, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Hematology at the Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.