Klin Onkol 1998; 11(6): 208-211.
Summary: Tropisetron (Navoban, Novartis Pharma Ltd., Switzerland), a selective antagonist of the serotonin receptor (5-HT3) dosed once-daily at 0.2 mg/kg (with a maximum of 5 mg daily), was evaluated in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in 86 children with a mean age of 8.5y (0.4-18y). Acule lymphoblastic leukemia was the most common malignancy (31 %). For the purpose of the study, the first course of chemotherapy with tropisetron was evaluated. For the prevention of the early nausea and vomiting, tropisetron was administered intravenously on all days of chemoiherapy. After completion of chemotherapy children received tropisetron orally in the morning, at least one hour before food intake, to prevent delayed nausea and vomiting. Children receiving cisplatin-containing chemotherapy had tropisetron orally for 5 days whereas other children for 3 days only. Our data suggest high efficacy and safety for tropisetron. On day 1 of chemotherapy, 91% of children had complete (77%) or major control (<=2 events of vomiting) (14%) of early nausea and vomiting. During the second day of chemoherapy, the efficacy of tropisetron in controlling nausea and vomiting decreased slightly (86%) followed by increasing control thereafter 3th day 96% 4th and 5th day 97% children). However, these changes were not significanti. Delayed nausea and vomiiing were fully controled in most of children by orally-given tropisetron. Total and major control of nausea and vomiting during cisplatin-containing chemotherapy was achieved in more than 60% of children. Delayed nausea and vomiting were also successfully suppressed in this group. No adverse effects of tropisetron were documented in this study.
