Megestrol acetate (MA) is a progestational agent, currently known as one of the most effective appetite stimulants in patients suffering from cancer anorexia/cachexia syndrome. Oral suspension of this drug may be particularly useful in patients with far advanced disease, where taking larger amount of pills may lead to the decrease of patient compliance. The influence of oral MA suspension on quality of life and nutritional status was evaluated in 22 patients with far advanced cancer suffering from anorexia and more than 5 per cent weight loss, all beyond the scope of anticancer treatment. Most patients had lung or gastrointestinal cancer. QLQ-C30 questionnaire, visual analogue scale (VAS) for appetite, anthropometry, maximal handgrip strength and laboratory data were obtained before treatment and then after 2, 4, and 8 weeks of therapy. Despite of a known high mortality in this prognostically unfavorable group of patients (36% within two months in this study), overall quality of life after the daily dose of 480-840 mg of MA was improved in 63, 56, and 55% of patients remaining on therapy after 2, 4, and 8 weeks, respectively. Appetite was the most successfully influenced parameter with an improvement in VAS in 95% of cases after 2 weeks of therapy (p=0.0001). The drug was well tolerated by the great majority of patients. Oral suspension of megestrol acetate maybean effective palliative treatment for many patients with far advanced cancer suffering from anorexia/cachexia syndrome.
- MeSH
- aplikace orální MeSH
- chuť k jídlu účinky léků MeSH
- chuťová stimulancia aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- kvalita života MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- megestrolacetát aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- nádory komplikace MeSH
- nechutenství farmakoterapie etiologie MeSH
- nutriční stav MeSH
- paliativní péče MeSH
- průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- suspenze MeSH
- tělesná hmotnost účinky léků MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- klinické zkoušky MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- randomizované kontrolované studie MeSH
- srovnávací studie MeSH
- Názvy látek
- chuťová stimulancia MeSH
- megestrolacetát MeSH
- suspenze MeSH
