Megestrol acetate in pediatric oncology patients may lead to severe, symptomatic adrenal suppression

Abstract

BACKGROUND. Despite the widespread use of megestrol acetate (MA) among a growing number of pediatric oncology departments, there is only one published study on the use of MA in children with malignant disease. The objectives of the current study were to examine the effect of MA in improving the nutritional status of children with malignant disease and to describe and consider the implications of MA-associated adrenal suppression that was found consistently. METHODS. Medical records of 19 children with malignant disease who were treated with MA were reviewed. During MA therapy, clinical assessments every 4 weeks included anthropometrics, caloric intake, quality-of-life scores, and appetite sc..