Preventive Effect of Ramosetron on Emesis Induced by High-dose Cisplatin Chemotherapy

Objective To evaluate the effect of ramosetron in controlling nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy. Methods Forty-three patients undergoing cisplatin-based chemotherapy received ramosetron to control emesis. Ondansetron was used as self-control in the previous or next course of the chemotherapy in the same patient. Results The effective rate of acute nausea and vomiting during the first 24 hours in ramosetron group was significantly higher than that in ondansetron group (P 0.05). The effective rate of nausea control in ramosetron group was higher than that in ondansetron group between day 2 to day 3 after chemotherapy, and the effective rate of vomiting control in ramosetron group was higher than that in ondansetron group between day 2 to day 4 after chemotherapy(P 0.05～ 0.01). The average nausea and vomiting periods in ramosetron group was much shorter as compared to ondansetron group ( 50.22/ 87.80 and 31.15/ 48.40 hours respectively, P 0.05～ 0.01). Conclusion Ramosetron is effective and superior to ondansetron in controlling of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting induced by cisplatin-based chemotherapy.