Quimioterapia metronómica en paciente hematológico como alternativa no curativa, en el Hospital Nacional de Niños “Dr. Carlos Sáenz Herrera” de enero 2016 a diciembre 2019.

Abstract

Introduction: Metronomic Chemotherapy consists of the administration of chemotherapy at low doses and in intervals with minimal side effects. Used in advanced cancer, to keep the neoplastic disease stable and offer a life quality improvement in these patients, together with palliative support care.

Methodology: A retrospective observational study, covering a 3-year period, from January 2016 to December 2019, characterizing patients with hematological disease who use metronomic chemotherapy as a non-curative option at the National Children's Hospital “Dr. Carlos Sáenz Herrera.”

Results: Within a total of 52 patients, the predominant gender was male with a 75.0% (n=39). Regarding the rate of incidence according to province, the province of Limón had the highest incidence with 6.9 x 100 000 inhabitants under 13 years of age, followed by San José with 6.4 x 100 000 inhabitants under 13 years of age and Guanacaste with 6.2 x 100 000 inhabitants under the age of 13. The symptoms during the treatment were predominantly joint pain in 35.2% followed by inappetence in 21.1%, fatigue in 13% and bleeding in 7.7%. 92.3% of the patients died before the 3-year duration of the Metronomic guide; 5.8% had a stable disease. A 72.3% of the patients died at home, only 27.6% (n=13) in the hospital.

Conclusion: The metronomic chemotherapy regime is reported as well tolerated by patients, with an evident a positive trend for patients who have exhausted the current therapeutic possibilities; including a multidisciplinary approach is done with the palliative care team.