Findings

What do systematic reviews say?

6 questions · 7 findings · 1 reviews · All outcomes

No studies found 2 · 28.6%GRADE not reported 5 · 71.4%Very low 0 · 0%Low 0 · 0%Moderate 0 · 0%High 0 · 0%

Locoregional control · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region

Amifostine (intravenous) showed no clear difference in locoregional tumour control compared with amifostine (subcutaneous); GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Salivary flow rate · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
No salivary flow rate data related to routes of administration of amifostine were reported.
0 studies
No studies found

Adverse effects · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region

1 finding from 1 review

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
Increased hypotension with intravenous delivery (20% vs 8%; P = 0.007); skin rash (10% vs 22%; P = 0.012) and local pain at injection site (0% vs 8%; P = 0.001) worse with subcutaneous; inconclusive for…
1 study
GRADE not reported

Overall survival · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region

Amifostine (intravenous) showed no clear difference in overall survival compared with amifostine (subcutaneous); GRADE not reported.

1 finding from 1 review

Quality of life · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

1 finding from 1 review

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
No data on either quality of life or other oral related symptoms were reported.
0 studies
No studies found

Xerostomia (grade >= 2, 0-4 scale) · Patients receiving radiotherapy on its own or in addition to chemotherapy to the head and neck region

Amifostine (intravenous) led to lower xerostomia (grade >= 2, 0-4 scale) compared with amifostine (subcutaneous); GRADE not reported.

2 findings from 1 review

Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
12 months postRT
RR 0.61 [0.42, 0.88]
1 study · 127 participants
GRADE not reported
Pharmacological interventions for preventing dry mouth and salivary gland dysfunction following radiotherapy 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
Up to and including 3 months postRT
RR 1.03 [0.76, 1.40]
1 study · 263 participants
GRADE not reported