Hypothermia as an Adjunct Therapy to Vesicant-induced Skin Injury
2008
Cooling Therapy for Skin Injuries from Chemical Warfare Agents
publication
Evidence: moderate
Author Information
Author(s): Sawyer Thomas W, Nelson Peggy MD, MBA
Primary Institution: Defence Research and Development Canada–Suffield, Alberta, Canada
Hypothesis
Can cooling vesicant-exposed tissue prevent or reduce skin injury from chemical warfare agents?
Conclusion
Cooling measures can significantly protect against skin injuries caused by vesicant agents like sulfur mustard and lewisite.
Supporting Evidence
- Cooling at 25°C delayed or prevented cell death from sulfur mustard.
- Animal studies showed that cooling significantly protected against skin injury from both sulfur mustard and lewisite.
- Cooling increased the therapeutic window for drugs against vesicant agents.
Takeaway
If you cool skin that has been hurt by certain chemicals, it can help prevent serious injuries.
Methodology
The study used tissue culture and animal models to assess the effects of hypothermia on skin exposed to chemical warfare agents.
Limitations
The protective effects of cooling were not permanent and varied between in vitro and in vivo models.
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