title: Megestrol acetate therapy for anorexia and weight loss in children with malignant solid tumours.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Malnutrition is very frequent in childhood cancer. Its main cause is inadequate intake for energy demands owing to lack of appetite. Megestrol acetate is a synthetic progestin that has been used for reversing anorexia in adult cancer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess megestrol acetate efficacy and side-effects in treating anorexia in childhood cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five children with solid tumours were receiving antitumour therapy. Nutritional assessment was by anthropometry. Megestrol acetate efficacy was assessed by evaluating grade of appetite, energy intake and well-being. Side-effects were evaluated by means of clinical history, physical examination, lipid profile, coagulation tests and cortisol rhythm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared to baseline all the anthropometric measurements increased (P < 0.05) from the first month of megestrol acetate therapy, as well as appetite and energy intake. No significant side-effects were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Megestrol acetate therapy is a powerful appetite stimulant which led to weight gain, composed of both fat mass and fat-free mass. Megestrol acetate is well tolerated, with few and mild side-effects. If megestrol acetate therapy is started at the onset of anorexia, the use of more expensive, invasive and complicated techniques of nutritional support may be avoided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University Clinic, School of Medicine, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Azcona
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Crespo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sierrasesúmaga
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000855:Anorexia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D019167:Appetite Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019290:Megestrol Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D019167:Appetite Stimulants; D019290:Megestrol Acetate