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Transplant Toxicities

The burden of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in children receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation conditioning: a prospective study

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 52, pages 1294–1299 (2017)Cite this article

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Abstract

This prospective study describes chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in children (4–18 years) receiving their first hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Emetic episodes, nausea severity (assessed using a validated, self-report nausea severity assessment tool) and antiemetic administration were documented from the start of conditioning until 24 h after the last conditioning agent was administered (acute) and for a further 7 days (delayed). Relationships between CINV control and parenteral nutrition (PN) use and acute gut GvHD (aGvHD) were explored. Fifty-nine children (4.6–17.4 years) were evaluable. Complete chemotherapy-induced vomiting (CIV; acute: 24%; delayed 22%) and chemotherapy-induced nausea (CIN; acute 7%; delayed 12%) control rates were low. Few children experienced complete CINV control (no vomiting/retching and no nausea) during the acute (5%) or delayed phases (12%). Children experiencing complete acute or delayed CIN control or complete delayed CIV control were more likely to have received: a lower proportion of their total energy requirement as PN at the end of the delayed phase (P<0.036) and PN for a shorter time (P<0.044). Low patient numbers did not permit evaluation of the association between gut aGvHD and CINV control. Effective and safe interventions aimed at improving CINV control in children are required.

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Acknowledgements

The generosity of the children and families who participated in this study is sincerely appreciated. The support and contributions of the nursing, medical and pharmacy staff of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit at The Hospital for Sick Children, and the assistance of Ms Mila Khanna and Ms Ashlee Vennettilli, Clinical Research Project Coordinators, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacy, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    J Flank, J Sparavalo, H Vol, D Chong & L L Dupuis

  2. Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    J Flank, J Sparavalo, H Vol & L L Dupuis

  3. Department of Dietetics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    L Hagen & R Stuhler

  4. Department of Nursing, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    S Courtney

  5. Section of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    J J Doyle

  6. Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

    J J Doyle

  7. School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol and Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, UK

    A Gassas

  8. Department of Paediatrics, Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children and Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    T Schechter

  9. Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    L L Dupuis

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  1. J Flank
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  2. J Sparavalo
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  3. H Vol
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  8. J J Doyle
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  9. A Gassas
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  10. T Schechter
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  11. L L Dupuis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to L L Dupuis.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Flank, J., Sparavalo, J., Vol, H. et al. The burden of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in children receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation conditioning: a prospective study. Bone Marrow Transplant 52, 1294–1299 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2017.112

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2017.112

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