RESULTS OF COMBINED TREATMENT OF RESPIRAT ORY-DISEASES IN SUBJECTS EXPOSED TO RADIATION AFTER THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT

Examinations of respiratory system in subjects exposed to longterm inh alation of radioactive dust when engaged in repair works after the Che rnobyl accident have revealed specific pathology of the respiratory or gans caused by long-term persistance of radioactive dust in the lung t issue. A special regimen of combined treatment has been developed whic h included: bronchoalveolar lavage, antioxidants, broncholytics, mucol ytics, extracorporeal procedures, physical rehabilitation. 1-year moni toring of subjects on this treatment versus untreated controls proved the above regimen beneficial as the patients exhibited less intensive clinical symptoms, less frequent exacerbations of infectious and infla mmatory processes, higher quality of life. Some of the patients resume d work. Contrary to controls, the patients had no signs of progression . Therapeutic bronchoalveolar lavage led to elimination of a large per cent of the radioactive dust which was present in the alveolar macroph ages, thus ruling out the key factor of respiratory affections.