Overview
Acute radiation syndrome (ARS), also known as radiation sickness or radiation toxicity, is a serious illness that happens when the entire body (or a large part of it) receives a high dose of radiation in a short period of time, usually within minutes. This is not a genetic disease — it is caused by external exposure to ionizing radiation, such as from a nuclear accident, nuclear weapon detonation, or a serious industrial radiation incident. ARS affects the body by damaging rapidly dividing cells, especially in the bone marrow, the lining of the gut, and the nervous system. The severity depends on the radiation dose received. At lower but still dangerous doses, the bone marrow is most affected, leading to a drop in blood cells that causes infections, bleeding, and anemia. At higher doses, the intestinal lining breaks down, causing severe diarrhea, dehydration, and infection. At very high doses, the brain and nervous system are damaged, which can be rapidly fatal. The illness typically unfolds in phases. First, there is a prodromal phase with nausea, vomiting, and fatigue that may appear within hours. This can be followed by a latent period where the person feels temporarily better, before the main illness sets in. Treatment is largely supportive and depends on the dose received. It may include blood transfusions, antibiotics, growth factors to stimulate bone marrow recovery, and in some cases, bone marrow transplantation. Medications like Neupogen (filgrastim), Neulasta (pegfilgrastim), and Leukine (sargramostim) have been approved by the FDA to treat the blood cell effects of ARS.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Nausea and vomitingDiarrhea (sometimes bloody)Severe fatigue and weaknessLoss of appetiteFever and infectionsUnusual bleeding or bruisingHair lossSkin burns or rednessHeadacheDizziness or disorientationLow blood cell countsDehydrationMouth soresSeizures (in very high dose exposure)Loss of consciousness (in very high dose exposure)
Clinical phenotype terms (24)— hover any for plain English
Sporadic
Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
Variable
Can begin at different ages, from infancy through adulthood
FDA & Trial Timeline
6 eventsCentre Cardiologique du Nord
Jian Chen — PHASE2
First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College — PHASE2
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center — PHASE2
City of Hope Medical Center — PHASE1
Osijek University Hospital
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
1 availableNeulasta
Increase survival in patients acutely exposed to myelosuppressive doses of radiation (Hematopoietic Subsyndrome of Acute Radiation Syndrome)
Rare Disease Specialist
Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Financial Resources
1 resourcesTravel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Acute radiation syndrome.
Community
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Start the conversation →Latest news about Acute radiation syndrome
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Deep-sea Fish Oil for Prevention of Acute Radiation-induced Esophagitis
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Acute radiation syndrome
New recruiting trial: Retrospective Analysis of Chest X-ray Severity Scoring System of COVID-19 Pneumonia
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Acute radiation syndrome
New recruiting trial: Intensity Modulated Total Marrow Irradiation in Fully Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-Matched and Partially-HLA Mismatched Allogeneic Transplantation Patients With High-Risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML), and Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Acute radiation syndrome
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.What radiation dose am I estimated to have received, and what does that mean for my health?,What phase of acute radiation syndrome am I in, and what should I expect next?,What treatments will I receive, and how will they help my recovery?,How long will I need to stay in the hospital, and what will my recovery look like?,What are the long-term health risks I should be aware of, including cancer risk?,Should my family members or others who were nearby also be evaluated?,What psychological support services are available for me and my family?
Common questions about Acute radiation syndrome
What is Acute radiation syndrome?
Acute radiation syndrome (ARS), also known as radiation sickness or radiation toxicity, is a serious illness that happens when the entire body (or a large part of it) receives a high dose of radiation in a short period of time, usually within minutes. This is not a genetic disease — it is caused by external exposure to ionizing radiation, such as from a nuclear accident, nuclear weapon detonation, or a serious industrial radiation incident. ARS affects the body by damaging rapidly dividing cells, especially in the bone marrow, the lining of the gut, and the nervous system. The severity depend
How is Acute radiation syndrome inherited?
Acute radiation syndrome follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
Are there clinical trials for Acute radiation syndrome?
Yes — 2 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Acute radiation syndrome on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Acute radiation syndrome?
25 specialists and care centers treating Acute radiation syndrome are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.
What treatment and support options exist for Acute radiation syndrome?
1 patient support program are currently tracked on UniteRare for Acute radiation syndrome. See the treatments and support programs sections for copay assistance, eligibility, and contact details.