Clinical observation of the effects of moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone plus opioid drugs on cancer pain and immune function / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

ABSTRACT

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone plus opioid drugs for moderate-to-severe cancer pain, and the effect on immune function in patients with cancer pain. Methods: A total of 80 patients with moderate-to-severe cancer pain were randomized into an observation group and a control group by the random number table method, with 40 cases in each group. Both groups were treated with opioid drugs for analgesia according to the standardized management principles for cancer pain. In addition, the observation group was given moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone. The treatment was performed once a day, continuous 5-day treatment with a 2-day interval constituted a treatment course, and a total of 2 courses were performed. The score of numerical rating scale (NRS) and 24 h equivalent morphine consumption was compared between the two groups before treatment, after 1 treatment course and after 2 courses of treatment. The immune functions were compared between the two groups before and after 2 courses of treatment. Results: During the treatment, there were 3 dropouts in the control group, and 2 dropouts in the observation group. Before the treatment, there were no significant differences in the NRS score and 24 h equivalent morphine consumption between the two groups (both P＞0.05). The NRS scores of both two groups were quite stable during the whole treatment period, and there was no significant difference in the intra-group comparison after treatment (both P＞0.05), and there was no significant difference between the two groups at the same time point (both P＞0.05). In the control group, the 24 h equivalent morphine consumption showed an increasing trend. The dosage after 1 treatment course and 2 courses of treatment was statistically different from that before treatment in the control group (both P＜0.01). There was no significant change in the mean 24 h equivalent morphine consumption in the observation group compared with that before treatment (both P＞0.05). After 2 courses of treatment, the 24 h equivalent morphine consumption in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group at the same time point (P＜0.05). Before treatment, there was no significant difference in the levels of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+) between the two groups (all P＞0.05). After treatment, the levels of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+) in the control group were lower than those before treatment (all P＜0.05), while the levels in the observation group were higher than those before treatment, and the levels of CD3+ and CD4+ were significantly different from those before treatment (both P＜0.05). After treatment, the levels of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+, CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+) of the observation group were significantly higher than those of the control group at the same time point (all P＜0.05). Conclusion: Moxibustion with seed-sized moxa cone can reduce the dosage of opioid drugs used in patients with moderate-to-severe cancer pain and improve their immune functions.