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The acute effect of tropisetron on ECG parameters in cancer patients

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Abstract

Objectives

The 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor antagonists, including tropisetron, ondansetron, granisetron, and dolasetron are agents used effectively for supportive care. They are used for the prevention and treatment of chemotherapy and radiotherapy-induced emesis. Despite their overall excellent safety profile, some electrocardiographic changes related to heart rate and repolarization were reported. Ondansetron, granisetron, and dolasetron were studied on this manner. But to our knowledge, there is no information about the cardiac side effects of tropisetron. In this study, we aimed to determine the acute effects of tropisetron on ECG parameters related to repolarization, heart rate, and systemic blood pressure.

Materials and methods

Fifty-five cancer patients who received tropisetron for the prevention of acute chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting were enrolled into this single center, prospective study. Standard 12-lead ECG recordings were performed at baseline and 30 min after tropisetron (5 mg given over 1 min IV bolus) administration. P wave durations and corrected QT intervals were measured; P wave dispersion and QTc dispersion were calculated.

Results

In comparison with baseline, mean heart rate significantly decreased 30 min after administration of tropisetron. Tropisetron did not result in a significant change in P wave duration, corrected QT interval, P dispersion, and QTc dispersion.

Conclusion

In this study, tropisetron did not show any ventricular and atrial arrhythmogenic effect because of repolarization abnormalities. Only it may cause a slight decrease in heart rate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Meram Medical School, Selcuk University, Meram, 42080, Konya, Turkey

    Ozlem Yavas, Onder Eren, Cem Boruban & Mehmet Artac

  2. Department of Cardiology, Meram Medical School, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey

    Mehmet Yazici

  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Meram Medical School, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey

    Mine Genc

Authors
  1. Ozlem Yavas
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  2. Mehmet Yazici
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  3. Onder Eren
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  4. Cem Boruban
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  5. Mehmet Artac
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  6. Mine Genc
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ozlem Yavas.

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Yavas, O., Yazici, M., Eren, O. et al. The acute effect of tropisetron on ECG parameters in cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 16, 1011–1015 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0400-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-007-0400-2

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