title: Tropisetron in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced acute emesis in pediatric patients.
abstract: We evaluated the antiemetic efficacy of tropisetron for control of acute emesis during grade 3 or 4 emetogenic chemotherapy in children. Tropisetron was administered as a single intravenous dose of 0.2 mg/kg on the first day and intravenously or orally with the same dose on subsequent days. A total of 125 courses of highly emetogenic chemotherapy was administered to 22 children with a median age of 14 years (range: 3-18 years). All 22 patients received tropisetron for at least two courses. Overall complete response on day 1 was observed in 80 out of 125 courses (64%). The response rates were consistent over multiple courses; a complete and major response rate on the first day of Course I (n: 22 courses) and Course II (n: 22 courses) was observed in 73 and 77 percent of cases, respectively. When the results were analyzed according to the daily schedules, overall complete response for grade 4, grade 3 and grade 1-2 emetogenic treatment days was 59, 85 and 75 percent, respectively. In this study, cost effectiveness for tropisetron was also determined; the cost per successfully controlled course was 162 USD. No side effects of tropisetron other than mild diarrhea and dry-mouth were documented in this study. In conclusion, the results of this study confirmed that tropisetron is a safe, well tolerated and effective antiemetic drug for the prevention of acute emesis in children and adolescents during highly emetogenic chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dokuz Eylül University Institute of Oncology, Izmir.
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Uysal
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Olgun
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sarialioğlu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000145:classification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004155:Diphenhydramine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control; D000077526:Tropisetron; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000145:classification / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007211:Indoles; D000077526:Tropisetron; D004155:Diphenhydramine