Caution about prescribing aspirin and NSAIDs in irradiated patients

• Patients who receive significant doses of whole body or partial body radiation will develop thrombocytopenia.
• The severity and onset of thrombocytopenia will vary with the total dose, dose rate, and host factors.
  • See generic examples of time to clinical thrombocytopenia and severity.
    • Radiation effects on blood counts (Verobiev)
    • Radiation effects on blood counts (Fliedner)
    • Radiation effects on blood counts (TMT Handbook)
• Exercise caution and consider risks versus potential benefits in prescribing these and any drugs that may diminish platelet function, as this could increase the risk of bleeding in thrombocytopenic patients.

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