Abstract
Introduction: Chronic radiation exposure, particularly among technicians using medical imaging instruments, may contribute to chronic disease, including renal dysfunction. Investigating the potential association of this exposure with biochemical changes may assist disease detection and prevention. Objectives: The study explores the risk of renal dysfunction among radiologic technologists (RTs) with ten years or more of diagnostic imaging experience to evaluate the association of accumulated radiation doses and possible renal injury. Patients and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on the effective accumulative radiation dose from 2009 to 2019 among RTs of radiological department at a general hospital in southern Saudi Arabia. Blood samples were collected, and key biomarkers analyzed using a fully automated biochemical analyzer. Serum levels of the following were measured; sodium, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), chloride, creatine kinase (CK), calcium, albumin, urea, creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase, total protein and potassium. In statistical analysis, P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Even with exposure to only low-level radiation sources, RTs were statistically predisposed to variation in biochemical profiles. RTs exhibited GGT and CK levels higher than that of controls, while serum chloride was significantly low. Conclusion: The current study found a significant change in renal biochemical profiles among RTs who had worked in a radiological department for more than ten years. The association between GGT, CK with Kidney diseases was reported in several reports. Chronic exposure to radiation may contribute to a rise in GGT and CK levels and reduction of chloride and thus could develop the risk of renal diseases.
Highlights
Chronic radiation exposure, among technicians using medical imaging instruments, may contribute to chronic disease, including renal dysfunction
Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education: In a retrospective analysis among radiologic technologists (RTs) of radiological department at a general hospital in southern Saudi Arabia, we found even with exposure to only low-level radiation sources, RTs were statistically predisposed to variation in biochemical profile
Studies showed that the rate of mortality among radiologists was high compared to other medical practitioners [4,5]
Summary
Among technicians using medical imaging instruments, may contribute to chronic disease, including renal dysfunction. Objectives: The study explores the risk of renal dysfunction among radiologic technologists (RTs) with ten years or more of diagnostic imaging experience to evaluate the association of accumulated radiation doses and possible renal injury. Conclusion: The current study found a significant change in renal biochemical profiles among RTs who had worked in a radiological department for more than ten years. Chronic exposure to radiation may contribute to a rise in GGT and CK levels and reduction of chloride and could develop the risk of renal diseases. Studies showed that the rate of mortality among radiologists was high compared to other medical practitioners [4,5] This rate has declined with the induction of lower occupational exposure to radiation [6]. The study aims to investigate the function of kidneys for RTs who are exposed daily to varying amounts of radiation
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