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Subject Area

Oncology

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objectives: to assess the role of anti-histaminic serotonin antagonist cyproheptadine in treatment of cancer related appetite loss.

Background: Patients with cancer often report changes in their appetite. Optimized nutritional intake together with pharmacological factors can be considered to improve food intake.

Methods: One hundred thirty-eight patients with anorexia were randomized into two groups. Either to receive nutritional support only (control group) or to receive nutritional support with cyproheptadine. We used Edmonton symptom Assessment system (ESAS) and functional assessment of anorexia/cachexia therapy-anorexia cachexia scale (FAACT-ACS) scores for assessment of appetite and FAACT total scores for assessment of quality of life. Anthropometric measures, hemoglobin level and albumin were obtained at baseline. both the scores and measures were repeated every 3 months.

Results: There was significant improvement in both FACCT- ACS and ESAS scores in both drug and control arms compared to baseline. The appetite scores were better in drug arm however, the difference was not statistically significant. The total FACCT quality of life scores were significantly lower than baseline scores in control arm (P value:

Conclusion: Both Cyproheptadine with nutritional support improved appetite scores among the studied group of patients, however cyproheptadine helped patients in drug arm to retain body weight, BMI, albumin, and hemoglobin levels throughout the treatment period.

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