Amifostine in Prevention of Radiation-induced Xerostomia

【Objection】 To evaluate amifostin effect on preventing radiation-induced xerostomia.【Methods】 Thirty patients with NPC were divided into groups randomly.Radiation therapy(70 Gy) was given to all the patients.Amifostine was injected into the patients before 20 min in the treatment group.Amifostine was instead by 0.9% NS.The salivary quantity, therapeutic effect and side-effect were evaluated respectively.【Results】 The salivary quantity in treatment group was remarkably higher than that in control group(P 0.05).The catarrh of oral cavity in the treatment group was more serious than that in control group.On the other hand, the side-effect of digestive tract in control group was more serious than that in the treatment group.There was no difference between the both groups.【Conclusion】 Amifostine is able to effectively protect salivary gland from radiation therapy due to NPC.At the same time, amifostine shows no protect to tumor tissue.