title: Treatment of anorexia and malnutrition in peritoneal dialysis patients with megestrol acetate.
abstract: Anorexia and malnutrition are common complications and powerful predictors of morbidity and mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Megestrol acetate (MA) is a progestogen that has been demonstrated to increase appetite and weight in patients with cancer or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. To determine whether MA might benefit PD patients, we treated 32 patients with 160 mg MA daily. Treatment lasted a mean of 5.93 +/- 5.12 months (range: 1 - 23 months). In 68.8% of the patients, appetite improved. Weight gain was statistically significant starting in the third month (initial weight: 66.5 +/- 11.4 kg; weight at third month: 68 +/- 10.4 kg; p < 0.05). We observed a nonsignificant increase in serum albumin at the third treatment month (initial serum albumin: 3.44 +/- 0.27 g/L; serum albumin at third month: 3.54 +/- 0.27 g/L; p = 0.45). No side effects were observed. Our experience suggests that treatment with 160 mg MA daily in PD patients leads to an increase in appetite, serum albumin, and weight gain in most patients, with no negative side effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, University Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain. olgacostero@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Costero
authors.forename: M Auxiliadora
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bajo
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: del Peso
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gil
authors.forename: Abelardo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aguilera
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ros
authors.forename: Covadonga
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hevia
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Selgas
mesh_terms: D000855:Anorexia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D001066:Appetite / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D019290:Megestrol Acetate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D019290:Megestrol Acetate