Acupuncture treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy--a case series.

Full Abstract

Chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) occurs in 10 to 20% of cancer patients treated with neurotoxic chemotherapy. A mixture of sensory, sensorimotor and autonomic nervous system dysfunction can occur, resulting in deterioration in function and worsened quality of life. A major feature is discomfort and pain. Early termination of treatment and dose reduction of chemotherapy may be necessary. The clinical course is variable and depends on the chemotherapy agents and their cumulative dose. Although symptoms can resolve completely, in most patients CIPN is either only partially reversible or completely irreversible. Current management for CIPN is symptomatic using membrane stabilising medications and antidepressants. The use of nerve growth factors is still experimental. Dysaesthesia and pain involving the feet and hands are described in both traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and Western biomedicine. In TCM, the pathogenesis is related to the inability to direct Qi and Blood to the extremities, and is associated with Qi, Blood, Yang and Kidney deficiencies. Acupuncture is moderately effective in treating diabetic neuropathy. However, to date, there is no report of the usefulness of acupuncture for CIPN. We report the result of a pilot prospective case series of five patients treated with an acupuncture protocol that aims to correct Qi, Blood and Yang deficiencies and directs Qi and Blood to the extremities, with the goal of improving the symptoms of CIPN. The responses were encouraging, and cannot be easily explained by the known neurophysiological mechanisms of acupuncture.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Wong, Raimond (R); Sagar, Stephen (S);

Affiliation: McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. raimond.wong(-atsign-)hrcc.on.ca

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Case Reports; Journal Article

Journal: Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society (Acupunct Med), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Jun; vol 24 (issue 2) : pp 87-91

Dates: Created 2006/06/19; Completed 2006/12/19;

PMID: 16783284, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 12/26/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Acupuncture Therapy - methods
Aged
Antineoplastic Agents - adverse effects
Female
Humans
Male

Male
Middle Aged
Neoplasms - drug therapy
Peripheral Nervous System Diseases - chemically induced; therapy
Severity of Illness Index
Treatment Outcome

Associated Chemicals: Antineoplastic Agents (0)

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

Peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients. 30 Dec 2000
The natural history of lumbosacral plexopathy in cancer. 30 Dec 1984
[Radiation-induced plexopathies and their treatment] 30 Dec 1992
Evaluation and management of peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients with cancer. 30 Mar 2008
Suramin-induced polyneuropathy. 30 May 1990
Neuropathies associated with monoclonal gammapathies. 30 Oct 1994
Evaluation and management of polyneuropathy: a practical approach. 29 Apr 1997
Comparison of IgM-MGUS and IgG-MGUS polyneuropathy. 27 Feb 1998
Intravenous methylcobalamin treatment for uremic and diabetic neuropathy in chronic hemodialysis patients. 30 May 1999
Symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas: treatment by means of direct intralesional injection of ethanol. 30 Jan 2000

See 100+ related articles.