5-HYDROXYINDOLEACETIC ACID (5-HIAA) AND CORTISOL EXCRETION AS PREDICTORS OF CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED EMESIS

This study evaluated the relationship between prechemotherapy cortisol and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) excretion and chemotherapy-in duced emesis. The urinary excretion of cortisol and the serotonin meta bolite 5-HIAA in the night before chemotherapy administration were mea sured in 28 and 49 female patients receiving >300 mg m(-2) carboplatin . Vomiting and nausea were documented over a 3 day observation period. Lower basal cortisol excretion was significantly correlated with vomi ting with or without nausea occurring within the observation period. 5 -HIAA showed only a weak correlation with emesis on days 1-3, but low 5-HIAA excretion was correlated with a higher proportion of patients v omiting on days 2-3 following chemotherapy. Low basal cortisol excreti on might be useful as a predictor for chemotherapy-induced emesis and therefore should be evaluated prospectively in future studies.