• Bernardino Clavo, Norberto Santana-Rodriguez, Pedro Llontop, Dominga Gutierrez, Daniel Ceballos, Charlin Méndez, Gloria Rovira, Gerardo Suarez, Dolores Rey-Baltar, Laura Garcia-Cabrera, Gregorio Martínez-Sánchez, and Dolores Fiuza.
• Radiation Oncology, Dr. Negrin University Hospital, 35.010 Las Palmas, Spain ; Chronic Pain, Dr. Negrin University Hospital, 35.010 Las Palmas, Spain ; Experimental Surgery-Research Unit, Dr. Negrin University Hospital, 35.010 Las Palmas, Spain ; Canary Islands Institute for Cancer Research (ICIC), 35.010 Las Palmas, Spain ; Spanish Group for Clinical Research in Radiation Oncology (GICOR), Madrid, Spain.
• Evid Based Compl Alt. 2015 Jan 1;2015:480369.

AbstractIntroduction. Persistent radiation-induced proctitis and rectal bleeding are debilitating complications with limited therapeutic options. We present our experience with ozone therapy in the management of such refractory rectal bleeding. Methods. Patients (n = 12) previously irradiated for prostate cancer with persistent or severe rectal bleeding without response to conventional treatment were enrolled to receive ozone therapy via rectal insufflations and/or topical application of ozonized-oil. Ten (83%) patients had Grade 3 or Grade 4 toxicity. Median follow-up after ozone therapy was 104 months (range: 52-119). Results. Following ozone therapy, the median grade of toxicity improved from 3 to 1 (p < 0.001) and the number of endoscopy treatments from 37 to 4 (p = 0.032). Hemoglobin levels changed from 11.1 (7-14) g/dL to 13 (10-15) g/dL, before and after ozone therapy, respectively (p = 0.008). Ozone therapy was well tolerated and no adverse effects were noted, except soft and temporary flatulence for some hours after each session. Conclusions. Ozone therapy was effective in radiation-induced rectal bleeding in prostate cancer patients without serious adverse events. It proved useful in the management of rectal bleeding and merits further evaluation.

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