Investigating the consequence of chronic exposure to radiation on renal biomarkers among selected radiologic technologists

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.