[The effect of hypothermia on the development of acute radiation necrosis of the skin].

A study was made of the influence of general hypothermia on the course of radiation necrosis of the skin, developing against the background of acute radiation sickness. The experiments were staged on 150 white male rats. Acute radiation sickness was induced by whole-body x-irradiation in doses of 400 r or 250 r (180 kv, 15 ma, filter 1 mm A1 + 0.5 mm Cu, KFR 40 cm). Acute radiation necrosis was provoked by local irradiation of the rat's spinal skin area with roentgen rays in doses of 5000 r (30 kv, 25 ma, filter 0.1 or 1 mm A1, KFR 10 cm) immediately after whole-body irradiation. Hypothermia was achieved by dry cooling the anima1s, with their complete immobillty, down to rectal temperature of 25 to 23 deg . It is shown that in cases of combined radiation injuries there are periods in the course of radiation sickness during which hypothermia sharply aggravates the course of radiation sickness and increases the death rate of animals. Such periods are the first 3 days of the latent stage and the period of cessation of clinical manifestations of radiation sickness. The use of hypothermia during this period is inexpedient. Hypothermia exerts a positive effectmore » on the course of radiation sickness and on that of skin lesions when it is employed at the end of the latent period (4 to 5 days following the irradiation) and at the peak of radiation sickness development. (auth)« less