ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Radio-induced dermatitis is one of the most frequent side effects of radiotherapy. Among the commercially available products for the care of irradiated skin is a hydrating lotion containing 3% urea, polidocanol and hyaluronic acid. Its effectiveness for preventing the appearance of radiodermatitis or reducing its severity has been studied on a number of occasions. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of "intensive use" of the lotion containing 3% urea, polidocanol and hyaluronic acid for preventing the appearance of acute radiodermatitis and controlling its severity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective observational study in 98 patients with breast cancer with a 10-week follow-up period. Skin toxicity (RTOG/EORTC scale) was evaluated weekly. To study the effectiveness we compared incidence and grade of toxicity with a sample of 174 breast cancer patients (control sample) treated in our centre during 2006 who used skin-support measures at the start of the radiotherapy or the occurrence of radiodermatitis. RESULTS: The proportion of patients who did not develop radiodermatitis was significantly higher in the intensive use group (27.6% vs. 15.5%; p<0.05; OR: 2.07). Compared with the same lotion in standard conditions, the intensive use group showed lower incidence of radiodermatitis (p<0.01), lower grade of toxicity (p<0.001) and lower proportion of radiodermatitis grade 2 or higher (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Intensive use of the lotion doubles the likelihood that breast cancer patients will not develop radiodermatitis during radiotherapy. Furthermore, compared with standard use, intensive use is more effective in reducing the incidence of skin toxicity and skin toxicity grade 2 or higher.
Subject(s)
Emollients/administration & dosage , Preventive Medicine/methods , Radiodermatitis/drug therapy , Radiodermatitis/prevention & control , Urea/administration & dosage , Administration, Topical , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Breast Neoplasms/epidemiology , Breast Neoplasms/radiotherapy , Breast Neoplasms/surgery , Combined Modality Therapy , Emollients/chemistry , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Incidence , Middle Aged , Radiodermatitis/epidemiology , Radiodermatitis/pathology , Radiotherapy, Adjuvant/adverse effects , Severity of Illness Index , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
La urea es uno de los humectantes naturales más efectivos y su disminución da lugar a alteraciones de la piel en algunas afecciones dermatológicas. Se revisa brevemente sus propiedades farmacológicas así como sus indicaciones principales.
Urea is one of more effective moisturizer of skin and its disminution is the cause of some dermatologic diseases. Its pharmacologic properties as well its indications are briefly revised.
