Adeleh Sahebnasagh1, Arash Ghasemi2, Jafar Akbari3, Abbas Alipour4, Hossein Lashkardoost5, Shahram Ala3, Ebrahim Salehifar6. 1. 1 Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Sari, Iran . 2. 2 Emam Khomeini Hospital, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Sari, Iran . 3. 3 Pharmaceutical Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Sari, Iran . 4. 4 Faculty of Medicine, Community Medicine Department, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Sari, Iran . 5. 5 School of Public Health, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences , Bojnurd, Iran . 6. 6 Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Center, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences , Sari, Iran .
Abstract
BACKGROUND:Acute radiation proctitis (ARP) is a common side-effect that affects up to 50% of patients receiving radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of a topical preparation of Aloe vera in the treatment of ARP induced by radiotherapy of pelvic area. SUBJECTS AND INTERVENTIONS: In this double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 20 consecutive patients with ARP after external-beam radiation therapy (46-72 Gy) of pelvic malignancies were randomized to receive either Aloe vera 3% or placebo ointment, 1 g twice daily for 4 weeks. These patients presented with at least two of the following symptoms: rectal bleeding, abdominal/rectal pain, diarrhea, or fecal urgency. These symptoms were rated by the patients in terms of their severity (grade 0-4) for each of the symptoms mentioned earlier at baseline and then weekly for 4 weeks. A symptom index was calculated by the addition of the scores (16 most symptomatic). Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) acute toxicity criteria and psychosocial status of the patients were also recorded weekly. The lifestyle impact of the symptoms was assessed by questionnaire grading from 0 (no effect on daily activity) to 4 (afraid to leave home). RESULTS: There was a significant (p < 0.05) improvement in the symptom index (before treatment vs. after treatment with Aloe vera) for diarrhea (median score: 0.67 vs. 0.11), fecal urgency (median score: 0.89 vs. 0.11), clinical presentation total (median score: 4.33 vs. 1.22), RTOG total (median score: 2.89 vs. 0.89), and lifestyle (median score: 1.1 vs. 0.33). Hemorrhage and abdominal/rectal pain did not improve significantly. The odds ratios for advantage of Aloe vera over placebo for "clinical presentation total" and "RTOG total" were 3.97 (1.3-11.9) and 5.9 (1.6-21.6), respectively. CONCLUSION: A substantial number of patients with radiation proctitis seem to benefit from therapy with Aloe vera 3% ointment.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Acute radiation proctitis (ARP) is a common side-effect that affects up to 50% of patients receiving radiotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of a topical preparation of Aloe vera in the treatment of ARP induced by radiotherapy of pelvic area. SUBJECTS AND INTERVENTIONS: In this double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 20 consecutive patients with ARP after external-beam radiation therapy (46-72 Gy) of pelvic malignancies were randomized to receive either Aloe vera 3% or placebo ointment, 1 g twice daily for 4 weeks. These patients presented with at least two of the following symptoms: rectal bleeding, abdominal/rectal pain, diarrhea, or fecal urgency. These symptoms were rated by the patients in terms of their severity (grade 0-4) for each of the symptoms mentioned earlier at baseline and then weekly for 4 weeks. A symptom index was calculated by the addition of the scores (16 most symptomatic). Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) acute toxicity criteria and psychosocial status of the patients were also recorded weekly. The lifestyle impact of the symptoms was assessed by questionnaire grading from 0 (no effect on daily activity) to 4 (afraid to leave home). RESULTS: There was a significant (p < 0.05) improvement in the symptom index (before treatment vs. after treatment with Aloe vera) for diarrhea (median score: 0.67 vs. 0.11), fecal urgency (median score: 0.89 vs. 0.11), clinical presentation total (median score: 4.33 vs. 1.22), RTOG total (median score: 2.89 vs. 0.89), and lifestyle (median score: 1.1 vs. 0.33). Hemorrhage and abdominal/rectal pain did not improve significantly. The odds ratios for advantage of Aloe vera over placebo for "clinical presentation total" and "RTOG total" were 3.97 (1.3-11.9) and 5.9 (1.6-21.6), respectively. CONCLUSION: A substantial number of patients with radiation proctitis seem to benefit from therapy with Aloe vera 3% ointment.
Authors: Joanne M Bowen; Rachel J Gibson; Janet K Coller; Nicole Blijlevens; Paolo Bossi; Noor Al-Dasooqi; Emma H Bateman; Karen Chiang; Charlotte de Mooij; Bronwen Mayo; Andrea M Stringer; Wim Tissing; Hannah R Wardill; Ysabella Z A van Sebille; Vinisha Ranna; Anusha Vaddi; Dorothy Mk Keefe; Rajesh V Lalla; Karis Kin Fong Cheng; Sharon Elad Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2019-07-08 Impact factor: 3.603