section name header

Evidence summaries

Megestrol Acetate for the Treatment of Anorexia-Cachexia Syndrome

Megesterol acetate (MA) improves appetite and weight gain in patients with cancer. Level of evidence: "A"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 30 studies with a total of 4123 subjects. Twenty-one trials compared MA at different doses with placebo; four compared different doses of MA versus other drugs; two compared MA with other drugs and placebo; and three compared different doses of MA. For all patient conditions, meta-analysis showed a benefit of MA compared with placebo, particularly with regard to appetite improvement and weight gain in cancer patients. Analysing quality of life, clinical and statistical heterogeneity was found and discussed. There was insufficient information to define the optimal dose of MA.

The following decision support rules contain links to this evidence summary:

References

  • Berenstein EG, Ortiz Z. Megestrol acetate for the treatment of anorexia-cachexia syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005 Apr 18;(2):CD004310. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords