Abstract
To evaluate the efficacy of combination of alpha-lipoic acid and acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (ipidacrine hydrochloride) to prevent the development and improve the course of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) in patients with breast cancer according to the Total Neuropathy Score. 32patients with breast cancer T1-4N0-3M0received six cycles of polychemotherapy according to the AT scheme (paclitaxel, doxorubicin) or ET scheme (paclitaxel, epirubicin). Patients were randomized into two groups- without (group I) or with (group II) medication for prevention of neuropathy. A comprehensive neurological examination of patients was performed according to all ten parameters of the Total Neuropathy Score before chemotherapy, and after third and sixth cycles of chemotherapy. Each parameter was evaluated from 0 (no deficit) to 4 (no function/the most severe deficit). The scores obtained from the scale were summarized to obtain a total score from 0to 40. The use of alpha-lipoic acid in combination with an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (ipidacrine hydrochloride) significantly reduces the symptoms and severity of PIPN. The manifestations of PIPN in patients of the control group were significantly more severe compared to the group in which the study drugs were used. The average severity of neuropathy after 3and 6cycles was 1.75and 2.62in groupI, and 1.12and 1.62- in group II, respectively (improvement by 15.75% (p < 0.05) and 25.00% (p < 0.001) after3and 6cycles). Proposed combination of alpha-lipoic acid and ipidacrine hydrochloride led to a statistically significant reduction in the severity of PIPN, and thus to improvement of the functional capacity and quality of life of patients.
Published Version
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