TROPISETRON IN THE CONTROL OF NAUSEA AND VOMITING INDUCED BY COMBINEDCANCER-CHEMOTHERAPY IN CHILDREN

The efficacy of tropisetron, a new 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, was eval uated in a group of 15 children with a variety of malignant tumours. T he majority of children (14/15) received fractionated chemotherapy and on day one complete control of acute nausea and vomiting was observed in 68.7% of all patients with a single, 15-minute, i.v. infusion of t ropisetron. Partial control of vomiting was observed in 25% of patient s and of nausea in 31.3% of patients on Day 1. Complete control of del ayed nausea and vomiting was more variable, with an observed range bet ween 50%-81% of patients over Days 2-6. There was no loss of appetite in 75% of patients treated with tropisetron on Day 1 and, more variabl y, in 62%-87% of patients on Days 2-6. Side effects were recorded in 1 8.8% of chemotherapy cycles, the most significant being insomnia in 12 .5% of cycles and slight fever in 6.3% of cycles. It was concluded tha t tropisetron was well suited for children and could be recommended fo r those receiving a high burden of fractionated chemotherapy.