Abstract
20678 Background: Up to 80% of men treated with androgen deprivation for prostate cancer suffer from hot flashes. Insomnia, fatigue, and irritability are often associated with hot flashes and adversely affect the quality of life for these patients. Several pharmacologic interventions can reduce hot flash frequency and intensity but have the potential for adverse effects. Acupuncture, a 23 century-old treatment modality, has been reported to substantially reduce hot flash frequency in postmenopausal women. We investigated the benefit of acupuncture in a group of men with hot flashes due to hormonal therapy for prostate cancer. Methods: Eight men with prostate cancer experiencing hot flashes more than three times/day were enrolled in an IRB approved protocol. The hot flashes were scored using 3 nationally accredited scoring systems; Hot Flash Score (HFS), Hot Flash Related Daily Interference Scale (HFRDIS) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Hot flashes were assessed on weekly basis and at one month post intervention. Interventions were given twice weekly for 4 consecutive weeks and once a week for the following 6 weeks. Pre- and post-acupuncture serum Serotonin is obtained. Results: Four patients completed the protocol with one month follow up. The mean pre-intervention hot flashes score was 12 for HFS, 59.2 for HFRIDS and 5 for PSQI. The post treatment scores were 4, 36.7 and 2.3 respectively. The overall mean reduction in hot flashes was 53%. The mean pretreatment serotonin level was 226 compared to 183 in post therapy estimation. No immediate adverse effects could be observed. Conclusions: The use of acupuncture reduced the intensity and frequency of hot flashes in men with prostate cancer secondary to androgen ablation by 53%. The intervention was safe with no immediate adverse effects. The study is still accruing patients. ClinicalTrials.gov ID#NCT00421902 No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
