Effects of Chinese Medicine on Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy:A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the efficacy of a Chinese Medicine formula on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).Methods From April,2013 to December,2014,56 patients were randomized blindly to receive granulas of Chinese Medicine of modified Huangqi-Guizhi Wuwu and Shentong-Zhuyu(treatment group,n=28)or placebo(control group,n=28),for a month.They were as-sessed with Number Rating Scale (NRS) of symptoms of CIPN, National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTCAE) version 4.0, and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-30 (EORTC QLQ-C30)before,and four weeks,eight weeks and twelve weeks after treatment.Results The score of NRS(F>9.518,P<0.01) and grade of NCI-CTCAE(Z>3.887,P<0.05)improved in the treatment group compared with those in the control group eight weeks and twelve weeks after treatment.The scores of EORTC QLQ-C30 also improved twelve weeks after treatment, but only significantly in the symptom of fatigue(t=-2.971,P<0.01).Conclusion The Chinese Medicine can release the symptoms of CIPN,decrease the grade of neuro-toxicity,and may improve the quality of life somewhat.