Evidence Hub

Antipyretic effect of parenteral paracetamol (propacetamol) in pediatric oncologic patients: a randomized trial

Reymond D, Birrer P, Lüthy AR, Rimensberger PC, Beck MN

Pediatric hematology and oncology, 1997

24 participants

Abstract

The antipyretic efficacy of propacetamol, an intravenous prodrug of paracetamol, was evaluated in two pediatric prospective randomized studies. In the first, we-compared one standard intravenous dose of propacetamol (30 mg/kg) to one standard intravenous dose of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, 15 mg/kg) in 10 nononcologic patients with bacterial illnesses. In the second study, we compared two intravenous doses of propacetamol (30 mg/kg versus 15 mg/kg) in 24 oncologic patients with fever and neutropenia. No statistically significant differences in antipyretic efficacy were found between standard doses of propacetamol and ASA; even when half-doses of propacetamol (15 mg/kg) were used, good antipyretic efficacy was observed, which was not statistically different from that observed with the full dose. The use of propacetamol seems promising for patients (such as oncologic patients) who cannot receive enteral paracetamol formulas.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence. Reported size: 24 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

Read the paper

Related studies

Go deeper in Evidence Hub

Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.

Open this study Sign up free