key: cord-0938003-g9m0p98s
authors: Bevelacqua, Joseph J; Welsh, James S; Mortazavi, SMJ
title: Comments on: “Low dose radiation therapy for severe COVID-19 pneumonia: a randomized double-blind study”
date: 2021-04-29
journal: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.04.025
sha: aec5df5adc18dcf9f600b298c03d24353394aed4
doc_id: 938003
cord_uid: g9m0p98s

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Addtionally, there is probably a window of opporunity during which LDRT can effectively address the pulmonary symnptoms of COVID-19 or other viral pneumonias. This concept is akin to the window of opportunity during which external beam radiation therapy is effective for spinal cord compression. In the case of COVID pneumonia, the window of opportunity is likely before the patient becomes so ill that mechanical ventilation is required. In addition, the concept of a "therapeutic window" clearly explains why Ameri et al. concluded that in their trial, 0.5 Gy was more effective than 1.0 Gy 5 .

It is worth noting that using doses < 1 Gy (in particular, doses less than 0.5 Gy) not only increases the therapeutic effects of low dose radiation therapy but also reduces the cancer risk to 

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

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