Abstract
ABSTRACTObjective:to analyze and synthesize knowledge about the effect of acupuncture on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy symptoms in adults with cancer. Method:the method used was a Systematic Review. Potential articles were identified by searching in the PubMed of National Library of Medicine, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Embase, Cochrane Central and Scopus. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses strategy, 607 articles were identified. After removing the duplicates, all titles and abstracts were reviewed, and seven articles were selected for full review. After the full review, five studies were selected for inclusion. Results:of the five articles included, four were cohort studies and one was a quasi-experimental study. All articles showed that acupuncture was associated with an improvement in the peripheral neuropathy, but the type of protocol, use of medications, time of treatment, and different outcome measures made it difficult to compare the studies. Conclusion:the use of acupuncture appears to be associated with an improvement in the symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and has no side effects. In order to improve the evidence about benefits associated with acupuncture, more experimental studies using both subjective and objective measures are needed.
Highlights
Chemotherapy is one of the most important treatments for cancer, but it has many adverse effects that adversely impact the patient’s quality of life
The terms used in the search were: PubMed: (“Peripheral Nervous System Diseases”[Mesh] OR (“peripheral neuropathy*”[Text Word] OR “neuropathic pain”[Text Word])) AND ((“Neoplasms”[Mesh] OR “Antineoplastic Agents”[Mesh]) OR)) AND ((((“Acupuncture”[Mesh] OR “Acupuncture Therapy”[Mesh]) OR “Acupuncture Points”[Mesh]) OR “Acupuncture Analgesia”[Mesh]) OR acupuncture[Text Word])
Patients continued using the prescribed medications for chemotherapyinduced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN)* but the drugs used were not identified
Summary
Chemotherapy is one of the most important treatments for cancer, but it has many adverse effects that adversely impact the patient’s quality of life. CIPN is a serious problem because it leads to difficulties in adherence to chemotherapy treatment, which may have an impact on both the patient’s daily life and the long-term outcome of the treatment. Patients who receive Cisplatin, for example, may experience loss of all sensory modalities, ataxia and gait imbalance, early reduction/loss of deep reflexes, paresthesia (burning sensation, tingling), numbness (loss of sensation), among others. These symptoms may continue for months after the end of treatment[1]. The intensity and degree of severity of the symptoms depends on the drug, dose, treatment time, and other co-morbid conditions, such as Diabetes, prior exposure to neurotoxic agents, and alcohol exposure[2]
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