Researchers have investigated whether acupuncture can reduce the need for antiemetic medication during chemotherapy in paediatric oncology. A multicentre crossover study carried out at five hospitals in Germany enrolled 23 children, mean age 13.6 years, who were receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy for the treatment of solid malignant tumours. Patients were randomly allocated to receive acupuncture treatment during either the second or third identical chemotherapy course together with standard antiemetic medication. Forty-six chemotherapy courses with or without acupuncture were compared. The need for rescue antiemetic medication was found to be significantly lower in acupuncture courses compared to control courses. Episodes of vomiting per course were also significantly lower with acupuncture. (Acupuncture to alleviate chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in pediatric oncology – a randomized multicenter crossover pilot trial. Klin Padiatr. 2008 Nov-Dec;220(6):365-70. Epub 2008 Oct 23).
Quelle: www.jcm.co.uk