Aim of paper: Assessment of effectiveness of three-drug regimen of antiemetic treatment (aprepitant + palonosetron + dexamethasone) in preventing early and delayed nausea and vomiting associated with high-dose BEAM chemotherapy prior to transplantation of autologous hematopoietic cells. Obtained results were compared with effectiveness of one- or two-drug regimens (palonosteron or ondansetron + dexamethasone) implemented in historic control groups. Material and methods: Ninety-six patients were recruited (42 with Hodgkin lymphoma and 54 with non-Hodgkin lymphoma). Subgroups of patients were age-, gender-, weight- and stage-matched and suitable for statistical analysis. Myeloablative chemotherapy was administered according to the BEAM protocol. Effectiveness in preventing early nausea and vomiting was assessed since the start of chemotherapy until 24 hours after termination thereof. Delayed nausea and vomiting were assessed during 5 consecutive days after termination of cytostatic treatment. Severity of nausea was assessed using a 4-tiered scale: no nausea, mild nausea (not compromising everyday activity), moderate nausea (slightly affecting everyday activity) and severe nausea (significantly affecting everyday activity). Clinical response in terms of inhibition of vomiting was assessed as follows: complete response (no vomiting), mayor response (1-2 vomiting episodes), minor response (3-5 vomiting episodes), no response (over 5 vomiting episodes). Overall clinical response to antiemetic medication (nausea and vomiting) was assessed using a 4-tiered scale: good, intermediate, poor and none. Results and conclusions: Three-drug antiemetic regimen is significantly more effective than two-drug regimen, particularly in preventing early nausea and vomiting in patients receiving BEAM chemotherapy prior to transplantation of autologous hematopoietic cells.

antiemetic therapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, high-dose chemotherapy, NK-1 receptor antagonists, serotonin receptor antagonists, steroids