141st APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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289154
Effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy -a review


Monday, November 4, 2013

Eric (Lung-Cheng) Hsiao, PhD, College of Eastern Medicine, Southern California University of Health Sciences, Whittier, CA
Lawrence (Lung-Sheng) Hsiao, MD, MS, College of Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine, Southern California University of Health Sciences, Whittier, CA
Sivarama Prasad Vinjamury, MD, College of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Southern California University of Health Sciences, Whittier, CA
Abstract

Objective: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is the most common side effect of cancer treatment. CIPN will impact on patient's functional capacity, the quality of life and results in dose reduction or cessation of chemotherapy, which makes it difficult to manage cancer treatment. The purpose of this paper is to review the efficacy of Acupuncture towards CIPN based on clinical studies. It may provide an adjuvant or alternative treatment to conventional treatment.

Methods: Literature searches were conducted in two electronic databases: PubMed and Cnki (a Chinese scientific periodical database). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involved in the acupuncture treatment of CIPN from 2003 to 2012 were included in this review. Case series and case study were excluded. This review is limited to articles in Chinese and English language.

Results: 4 papers met our inclusion criteria. All of them compared the treatment efficacy of acupuncture and conventional medicine; among these, 3 studies indicated acupuncture treatment showed significant difference than conventional medicine. One study showed acupuncture has same treatment result as conventional medicine. The safety and adverse effects of acupuncture in the treatment of CIPN was not reported.

Conclusion: Based on our review, acupuncture provides promising results for patients with CIPN. Further rigorous design, and large sample size RCTs are warranted to draw firm conclusions.

Key Words: Acupuncture, CIPN, Review

Learning Areas:

Clinical medicine applied in public health
Other professions or practice related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the efficacy of Acupuncture towards CIPN based on clinical studies. It may provide an adjuvant or alternative treatment to conventional treatment.

Keyword(s): Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Cancer

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the primary author of conducting this review.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3079.0: Research, Education and Practice of Alternative and Complementary Health Practices: Poster Session