Clinical Observation of Qi-blood-supplementing Needling for LeukopeniaAfter Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

ObjectiveTo observe the clinical efficacy of qi-blood-supplementing needling in treating the incipient leukopenia after chemotherapy for breast cancer.MethodSeventy-eight patients with incipient leukopenia after chemotherapy for breast cancer were recruited and randomized into a control group (38 cases) and a treatment group (40 cases). The control group was intervened by medications for increasing white blood cell (WBC) count, while the treatment group was by qi-blood-supplementing needling plus the medication. The therapeutic efficacies were evaluated at the end of the intervention.ResultThe WBC counts increased significantly in both groups after treatment (P<0.01), and the count in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). The total effective rate was 95.0% in the treatment group versus 89.5% in the control group, and the therapeutic efficacy of the treatment group was superior to that of the control group (P<0.05). The treatment group was also better than the control group in improving symptoms including poor appetite, fatigue, pale complexion, and lassitude (P<0.05,P<0.01).ConclusionFor patients with incipient leukopenia after chemotherapy for breast cancer, qi-blood-supplementing needling plus medication for increasing WBC count can up-regulate the WBC count and improve the symptoms due to qi-blood deficiency.