The Associated Press on September 28, 2022 reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he “won’t hesitate to use nuclear weapons to ward off Ukraine’s attempt to reclaim control of Moscow-occupied areas …”.
Question: Are there treatments for acute radiation sickness? The answer is a qualified, “Yes.”
One effect of an acute full body exposure to radiation is uncontrolled bleeding. There is a medication named romiplastin (Nplate) produced by Amgen USA that can treat the bleeding. It works by increasing platelets, which are necessary to stop bleeding.
A supply of this medication has been purchased by the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response for $290 million. The medication is intended “… to save lives following radiologic and nuclear emergencies.”
Nplate is also used to treat bleeding from immune thrombocytopenia unrelated to radiation exposure. It is administered by injection in both children and adults for this disorder or acute radiation sickness.
You can learn more by going to: medicalcountermeasures.gov
Peter M. Hartmann, MD
Family Medicine & Psychiatry
