The effect of ifosfamide and mesna in the treatment of children with various types of cancer

Given that various types of cancer are major causes of death among children and there is no comprehensive study investigating the simultaneous effect of ifosfamide and mesna in the treatment of patients with various types of cancer in our country, this study aimed to assess the effect of ifosfamide and mesna in the treatment of children with various types of cancer.

In the retrospective study, 46 patients with cancer were divided into two groups. In the first group, patients were treated with ifosfamide (800 mg-1g/m2/day) with 500 cc of normal saline and mesna (equivalent to the amount of ifosfamide) in the serum. In the second group, the patient received ifosfamide through serum and mesna at 0, 4, 8, and 16 hours after the ifosfamide injection. This injection continued for three days. Then blood count, hemoglobin, and kidney tests in both groups were examined.

White blood cells in both methods decreased significantly (P<0.01). In the second group, there was a significant difference before and after intervention, regarding hemoglobin level (P<0.01). In addition, more people in the second group showed gastrointestinal complications (P<0.01). There was no significant difference before and after intervention in the the two groups, regarding creatinine and urea levels (P>0.05).

In both groups, a decrease in white blood cells was observed, while kidney toxicity was not observed in any group. The decrease in hemoglobin in the second group was more than in the first group.