[Tropisetron for the prevention of nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy: multicenter clinical study]. / Tropisetron en la prevención de náuseas y vómitos por quimioterapia. Estudio clínico multicéntrico.

The antiemetic effect of tropisetron was studied in 97 cancer patients (67 men, 30 women) receiving cisplatin in doses of 75 mg/m2 or higher. On 279 chemotherapy cycles studied (max 6 per patient) 5 mg of tropisetron was administered once a day i.v on day 1 and p.o. on days 2 to 6. Efficacy preventing vomiting and nausea was measured in 24 hour period as: complete control O episodes, major control 1 to 2 episodes, minor control 3 to 4 episodes and no control 5 or more episodes. Satisfactory vomiting control (complete and major) was 69%, 63%, 82%, 88%, 96% and 96% in days 1 to 6 of cycle 1. Satisfactory nausea control (complete and major) for the same days was 70%, 66%, 72%, 85%, 92% and 97%. Similar data was obtained for the subsequent cycles. Complete vomiting control was obtained in 47%, 35%, 56%, 72%, 81% and 84% and for nausea in 42%, 39%, 48%, 64%, 81% and 87%. 19 patients presented adverse effects (19.6%). Only 2 headache episodes had a definite relation with the antiemetic drug. 12 patients discontinued the medication; 6 due to drug inefficacy, 2 to illness unrelated to the drug, 1 to lack of collaboration, and 3 due to other reasons. We conclude that tropisetron allows satisfactory control of acute and delayed vomiting in a high percentage of patients treated with high doses of cisplatin. The drug does not have significant secondary effects. Tropisetron administration in only one daily dose implies an evident advantage and a treatment cost reduction.

Epidemiologic background of blood donors with antibody to human T-cell lymphotropic virus. Transfusion Safety Study Group.

We interviewed 51 blood donors in four major US metropolitan areas subsequently found to have had antibodies to human T-cell lymphotropic virus (anti-HTLV) in late 1984-early 1985. Sixteen donors (31%) reported that they or a sexual contact had a history of blood transfusion. Twelve donors (24%) reported that they or a sexual contact used intravenous drugs. Ten donors (20%) were blacks born in the southeastern US. Four of the male donors (15%) reported homosexual contact. The most common characteristic was an association with Japan or the Caribbean basin (61%). These results show a broader variation of epidemiologic backgrounds than anticipated.