title: Management of gastrointestinal mucositis due to cancer therapies in pediatric patients: results of a case series with SAMITAL(®).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastrointestinal mucositis is a common debilitating complication of chemotherapy and one for which there is currently no effective long-term treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report our experience with the use of SAMITAL(®), a new oral suspension formulation based on the combination of three standardized extracts from Vaccinium myrtillus, Macleaya cordata fruits and Echinacea angustifolia roots in the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal mucositis in pediatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  20 pediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy for a range of oncological conditions were followed. Patients initially received oral SAMITAL(®) to treat gastrointestinal mucositis and were then given SAMITAL(®) prophylactically to prevent recurrences with successive cycles of chemotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SAMITAL(®) significantly decreased gastrointestinal mucositis grade after the first episode with a reduction of mean scores from 3.2 ± 0.7 at baseline to 0.4 ± 0.6 at the end of treatment (p < 0.001). SAMITAL(®) reduced pain, mucosal erosions, bleeding and dysphagia/feeding impairment. SAMITAL(®) improved patients' overall condition and quality of life after the first administration and lowered the need for parenteral nutrition. Importantly, it allowed chemotherapy cycles to be continued without complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results from this case series suggest that SAMITAL(®) may play an important role in the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal mucositis in children and adolescents and as such warrants investigation in controlled studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Hospital Clinico Regional de Valdivia, Valdivia, Chile.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bertoglio
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Folatre
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bombardelli
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riva
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morazzoni
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ronchi
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petrangolini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D052016:Mucositis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; C580632:samital