title: Ondansetron, an antagonist of 5-HT3 receptors, in the treatment of antineoplastic drug-induced nausea and vomiting in children.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ondansetron, an antagonist of 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3 (serotonin 3) (5-HT3) receptors, in controlling nausea and vomiting induced by antineoplastic therapy in children affected by cancer. Six patients affected by nausea and vomiting due to antineoplastic drugs were treated with ondansetron (4 mg/m2). Urinary samples for the assay of serotonin and 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) were collected 24 hr before antineoplastic drug treatment, 24 hours after the start of antineoplastic therapy and, 24 hr after the start of ondansetron therapy. All patients were affected by nausea and vomiting within two to four hr after the antineoplastic treatment. Urinary concentrations of serotonin and 5-HIAA were higher and statistically significant (P < 0.01) with respect to basal values. Treatment with ondansetron significantly reduced the number of episodes of nausea and vomiting, as well as the urinary values for serotonin and 5-HIAA.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Second University of Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Matera
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Tullio
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lucarelli
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Casale
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Calabria
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lampa
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Indolfi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rossi
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000652:urine; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000652:urine; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D012701:Serotonin; D017294:Ondansetron; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid