Table 1.
Efficiency of the different anti-cachexia treatments
| Drug | Experimental animals | Humans |
|---|---|---|
| Progesterone derivatives | ++ | ++ |
| Cannabinoids | ++ | + |
| Cyproheptadine | + | + |
| Corticosteroids | – | – |
| Ghrelin | ++ | ++ |
| Pentoxifylline | ++ | ? |
| Thalidomide | + | + |
| Anti-cytokine antibodies and soluble receptors | +++ | – |
| Anti-inflammatory cytokines | ++ | ? |
| Anabolic steroids | ++ | ++ |
| β2-adrenergic agonists | +++ | ? |
| ω-3-fatty acids | ++ | ++ |
| Prostaglandin inhibitors | ++ | + |
| ACE inhibitors | ++ | ? |
| EPO | ? | ++ |
| ATP | ? | + |
| Creatine | ? | + |
| Amino acids | ++ | + |
| Proteasome inhibitors | ? | ? |
Data refer to experimental and clinical trials. +, slight beneficial effect. ++ relatively good results. +++, satisfactory treatment. –, unsuccessful trial. ?, unknown. Table adapted from Argilés et al.
Abbreviations: ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme; EPO, erythropoietin; ATP, adenosine triphosphate.