Predictability of acute radiation injury severity.

Results of dose-response analyses for different clinical symptoms of acute radiation syndrome (ARS) are reported here. The analyses were performed on dosimetric and clinical data from a group of ARS patients (59 cases) exposed to gamma and neutron or gamma radiation alone due to nuclear accidents at Mayak Production Association (Mayak PA). Findings suggested the possibility of prediction of injury severity within the first hours or days after acute exposure based on clinical symptoms and signs such as the onset of vomiting, neutrophil count abnormalities in the peripheral blood within the first 2-3 hours after acute exposure, and lymphocyte count abnormalities in the peripheral blood within the first 24-48 h after acute exposure.