Tropisetron in the control of nausea and vomiting induced by combined cancer chemotherapy in children.

The efficacy of tropisetron, a new 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, was evaluated in a group of 15 children with a variety of malignant tumours. The 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 tropisetron. Partial control of vomiting was observed in 25% of patients and of nausea in 31.3% of patients on Day 1. Complete control of delayed nausea and vomiting was more variable, with an observed range between 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 variably, in 62%-87% of patients on Days 2-6. Side effects were recorded in 18.8% of chemotherapy cycles, the most significant being insomnia in 12.5% of cycles and slight fever in 6.3% of cycles. It was concluded that tropisetron was well suited for children and could be recommended for those receiving a high burden of fractionated chemotherapy.