메게스트롤아세테이트

개요Megestrol Acetate is the acetate salt form of megestrol, a synthetic derivative of the naturally occurring female sex hormone progesterone with potential anti-estrogenic and antineoplastic activity. It is frequently used in the treatment of patients with metastatic breast cancer. It is generally well tolerated, except that it may cause undesirable weight gain. Subsequently, it was shown that megestrol acetate produced weight gain in a variety of cachectic cancer patients. Significant reduction inserum levels of IL-1a and b,IL-2,IL-6, and TNF-o were observed in cancer patientstreated with megestrol acetate which may bear on the mechanism of improved appetite and body weight gain.It has also been postulated that the effect is, at least in part,mediated by NPY,a potent central appetite stimulant.

용도Megestrol acetate (Megace), a semi-synthetic progestational steroid, is the most effective known appetite stimulant at present. Previously used in patients with cancer and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, only a few studies have considered the applicability of this drug in malnourished older persons. Megestrol acetate is useful if profound anorexia is the main manifestation of cachexia and if expected survival is weeks to months. Megace has been shown to significantly increase appetite, but not survival. In patients with a shorter predicted survival, a brief course of corticosteroids may be useful to stimulate appetite and have positive effects on nausea, pain, and asthenia.

일반 설명Megestrol acetate, 17-hydroxy-6-methylpregna-4,6-diene-3,20-dione acetate(Megace), is a progestin used primarily for the palliativemanagement of recurrent, inoperable, or metastatic endometrialor breast carcinoma. Megestrol acetate has also beenindicated for appetite enhancement in patients with AIDS.The biochemical basis for this use of megestrol is unclear.