[Acute tolerance in hyperfractionated accelerated whole-body irradiation].

BACKGROUND

Acute side effects of total body irradiation lead to intense molestations of the patients. Therefore, it is desirable to take measures to reduce these side effects. In a retrospective study the frequency of acute side effects of a hyperfractionated accelerated total body irradiation was assessed and compared to frequencies of other exposure schedules published in the literature. Additionally the influence of ondansetron on the frequency of nausea and vomiting was investigated.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

From 1989 to 1992, 76 patients (47 male, 29 female; median age 38 years) underwent total body irradiation before autologous bone marrow transplantation. They received 3 daily doses of 1.20 Gy each every 4 h on 4 successive days to a total dose of 14.40 Gy. Thirty-nine patients received 3 x 8 mg (daily, intravenous or per os) ondansetron during the whole course of irradiation.

RESULTS

The most relevant side effects were nausea and vomiting. Patients, who did not receive ondansetron (n = 37) showed a nausea and emesis rate of 73%. With ondansetron (n = 39) nausea and emesis were reduced to 38%. Also the grade of severity of these side effects was reduced.

CONCLUSIONS

Ondansetron proved to be an effective medicament for relieving nausea and vomiting during total body irradiation. The results obtained are in concordance with those published in the literature.