Rapid intravenous administration of granisetron prior to chemotherapy is not arythmogenic: results of a pilot study

Eur J Cancer. 2003 May;39(7):927-31.

Abstract

Patients with advanced malignancy are at an increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias, from their cancer and cardiotoxic treatments. Supportive care products co-administered should therefore not increase this risk. No clinically important cardiovascular effects are associated with the administration of granisetron over 30 s. To determine the effects of a rapid (1 s) injection of granisetron, 3 mg, on measures of cardiac repolarisation, a pilot study was performed in 17 patients undergoing moderately/highly emetogenic chemotherapy at two centres. All received dexamethasone, 8-12 mg, infused over 30 min, followed immediately by granisetron and then chemotherapy. Twelve-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) performed before granisetron treatment, 2 h later and the following day (11 patients) showed no differences in QTc(end max), QTc(apex max) or QT-interval dispersion between baseline and subsequent measurements, and there were no significant secondary adverse events. On this basis, granisetron should be considered the first-choice antiemetic for patients at increased risk of cardiac complications.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Antiemetics / administration & dosage*
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / etiology
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / prevention & control*
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Granisetron / administration & dosage*
  • Humans
  • Injections, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / complications*
  • Pilot Projects

Substances

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
  • Antiemetics
  • Granisetron