Whole-body hyperthermia with water-filtered infrared radiation: technical-physical aspects and clinical experiences.

Among the different methods of whole-body hyperthermia (WBH), the energy transfer with infrared radiation seems to have established itself as a relatively simple procedure. The infrared systems differ with regard to the used spectrum of radiation. In the case of water-filtered infrared radiation, infrared A (760-1400 nm) is the focal point of heat radiation. This radiation penetrates deep into the skin up to the capillary area of the corium. Eighty treatments of patients in an advanced stage of cancer (40 male, 40 female, April 1998-April 1999) were performed with a WBH device with water-filtered infrared radiation, IRATHERM®2000. Extreme WBH was combined with induced hyperglycaemia and relative hyperoxaemia, and for 83% of the patients with chemotherapy as well. The body-core temperature was measured rectally (85%) or vesically. The objectives of the thermal control were a low rate of side-effects and a quick rise of the body-core temperature with regard to the condition of the patient's skin. The mean d...