MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF IRRADIATED SKIN AFTER THE LOW DOSE X RAY THERAPY OF THE HIP JOINT OSTEOARTHRITIS
In the treatment of osteoarthritis it is used drug and local therapy, such as orthovoltage x-ray therapy (OXT), which does not present in the standarts. Aim of the study is to assess micro- and macro condition of exposed by x-ray skin during OXT of coxofemoral arthritis. The condition of irradiated and non exposed skin was analyzed in 8 patients who underwent OXT 12-15 years ago. Total dose was 4,8 Гр per 10 fractions. The skin was assessed visually and with the help of qualitative and quantitative microscopic examinations. Al patients were women aged 70,5 (62,6; 82) years old without micro- and macroscopic late radiation induced disorders in the field of x-ray exposure. In the irradiated side there are the same number of appendages of skin elements (U=28, р=0,535), but hair follicle are much rare in the same field (U=16, p=0,046). The frequency of sweat and tallow glands are equal. The thickness of corneous and seedling epidermal lays are lower in the field of irradiation comparing with controls 21,3 (18,5; 27,1) and 25,5 (18,8; 27,8) mkm respectively (U=29; р=0,753); and 36,9 (32,8; 45,8) and 44,3 (38,2; 53,4) mkm (U=18; р=0,141). The nucleus volume of acanthaceous in the field of radiation is 205,3 (171,8; 237,9) mkm<sup>3</sup>, in controls - 185,8 (175,8; 225,1) mkm<sup>3 </sup>(U=27; р=0,6); the square - respectively 45,6 (39,8; 50,6) mkm<sup>2</sup> and 42,1 (41,2; 48,6) mkm<sup>2</sup> (U=26; р=0,528). In consideration of absence macroscopic changes and minimal non-specific atrophic disorders in irradiated skin one can say that OXT is safety of the treatment of arthritis during 15 years after the treatment.