Clinical Study Electroacupuncture For Relief Of Gastrointestinal Adverse Effects On Chemotherapy

ObjectiveProspective study, base on evidence based medical research methods, evaluation electroacupunture for relief of gastrointestinal adverse effects on chemotherapy on efficacy of adverse reactions to the clinical search for a simple operation, and effective treatment.MethodsA total of 51 patients fulfill the inclusion criteria, taking randomized controlled method, the patients were divided into treatment group and control group,25 cases in treatment group and 26 cases in control group. Conventional treatment group were treated by symptomatic treatment with medicine for adverse effects induced by chemotherapy and combined with electroacupuncture on acupoints including the both sides of Zu san li(ST36), the Nei guan (PC6), Gong sun (SP4) and a Zhong wan (RN12). Control group only took medicine for treatment of side effects coming from chemotherapy. Observation period is set on the starting chemotherapy treatment until the end of the treatment. Survey would be conducted once a day for the period of one week observation. Both groups patients were compared on before and after treatment by Karnofsky performance status score (KPS), National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Toxicity Criteria (CTC) Grading System (1991) and blood test on the changes of red blood cells, neutrophil, platelets and hemoglobin.Results1. The two groups were carried out KPS elevation. There was no significant difference on KPS score between two groups in the first day. The same assessment was performed again in the third and fifth days. The score of control group were less than the treatment group by 6.9% and 11% respectively with statistical significance. Overall, in term of KPS score, the treatment group was better than the control.2. Clinical symptoms of the two groups were observed, there were no adverse effects in the first day of chemotherapy. The adverse symptoms came out gradually and reached the peak on the third day of treatment group. Then, the adverse symptoms were significantly reduced in the fifth day. The adverse symptoms of control group appeared on the first day and then reached to the peak on third day. The adverse symptoms were continually until the fifth day and then reduced gradually. The average rate of vomiting symptom was 12% on treatment group and 19.2% on control group in the first day. The vomiting symptom was dropped to 8% on treatment group and 19.2% on control group in the fifth day. There was 11% difference between two groups. Clinical observation of the above findings reviewed that the treatment group was less duration of vomiting, incidence and the extent of symptoms comparing to control group.3. All patients of both groups were no symptoms before the treatment. Hence, both groups were evaluated as grade 0 on the NCI Common Toxicity Criteria Grading System. After treatment,7 patients were rated as grade 1 and 2 patients as grade 2 on the treatment.group.5 patients were rated as grade 1 and 5 patients as grade 2 in control group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant. Overall, the grade of treatment group was better than the control group in terms of toxicity criteria grading. It showed that the acupuncture can improve the overall discomfort when taking chemotherapy.4. The observation had taken in the changes of white blood cells, neutrophil and platelet on before and after the treatment. There were no significant changes in treatment group. In the control group, the changes were obviously. There were significantly lower than before treatment statistically. In control group, the value of white blood cell, neutrophil and platelets were reduced by 12%,24% and 13.6% respectively. It concluded that electroacupuncture could stable the level of white blood cell, neutrophil and platelet.5. Level of Hemoglobin was observed before and after treatment. To compare two groups, the hemoglobin level were not significantly changed and statistical significant on before and after treatment. Conclusion1. Electroacupuncture Zu san li(ST36), Zhong wan(RN12), Gong sun (SP4) and Nei guan(PC6) can be effective in reducing chemotherapy side effects on the gastrointestinal symptoms.2. Electroacupuncture can significantly reduce vomiting, hiccup, fatigue and other physical symptoms and enhance the recovery.3. Electroacupuncture can stabilize and reduce damage of red blood cell, neutrophil and platelet. Summing up the above point of view, electroacupuncture Zu san li (ST36), Zhong wan(RN12), Gong sun(SP4) and Nei guan(PC6) can alleviate gastrointestinal side effects of chemotherapy. It is effective, simple and inexpensive method. It is highly recommended for clinical practice.