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Acute effect of palonosetron on electrocardiographic parameters in cancer patients: a prospective study

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Abstract

Objectives

Palonosetron is a novel 5-hydroxytryptamine3 (5 HT3) receptor antagonist, which has been shown to be superior to first generation 5 HT3 receptor antagonists regarding the prevention of acute, delayed and overall chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. First generation 5 HT3 receptor antagonists may induce electrocardiographic changes of heart rate and repolarization. The acute cardiac effect of palonosteron is unknown. The purpose of this study is to determine acute effects of palonosetron on electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters in cancer patients.

Materials and methods

The study had a prospective design. Seventy-six cancer patients with normal cardiac function who received palonosetron for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting were enrolled. Standard 12-lead ECG recordings were performed at baseline and 30 min after palonosetron administration. P wave durations and corrected QT intervals were measured; P wave dispersion (Pd) and QTc dispersion were calculated.

Results

Median heart rate did not differ among 76 patients enrolled before and after palonosetron administration (p: 0.6). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were not significantly different before and after palonosteron (p values 0.9 and 0.3, respectively). Although median QT min value was higher after palonosetron administration than before palonosetron administration, the difference was not statistically significant (p: 0.6).

Conclusion

Palonosetron seems to have no acute arrhythmogenic potential.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, Konya Training and Research Hospital, Konya, Turkey

    C. Yavas

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

    U. Dogan

  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Selcuk University Selcuklu Medical Faculty, Konya, Turkey

    G. Yavas

  4. Selcuk University Selcuklu Medical Faculty, Department of Medical Oncology, Konya, Turkey

    M. Araz & O. Yavas Ata

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  1. C. Yavas
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  2. U. Dogan
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  3. G. Yavas
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  5. O. Yavas Ata
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Correspondence to C. Yavas.

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Yavas, C., Dogan, U., Yavas, G. et al. Acute effect of palonosetron on electrocardiographic parameters in cancer patients: a prospective study. Support Care Cancer 20, 2343–2347 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1348-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1348-9

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