Lungs exposed to nuclear catastrophe: one-year therapeutic programme in Chernobyl liquidators group.

The high prevalence of chronic respiratory problems in cleaning technicians (so-called "liquidators") of the destroyed reactor at Chernobyl and prolonged persistence of inhaled radioactive particles in their lungs suggested a substantial link between radioactive exposure and the diseases observed. Taking into account the importance of the problem, we started this study with the aim of establishing an effective and useful therapeutic program and assessing its efficacy during a one-year period of treatment. Chernobyl liquidators (n = 20) were screened by clinical history, physical examination, lung function test, chest radiograph, electrocardiogram, complete blood cell counts, serum chemistry, immunological blood tests, and complete BAL fluid investigation. One group of the patients (n = 10) underwent a special one-year treatment including polyvitamins, N-acetylcysteine, and therapeutic BAL every 3 months. The technique of therapeutic BAL has proven to be a promising and effective tool in the treatment of lung diseases induced by inhalation of radioactive particles.