Original Article


Transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) ameliorates chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression in lung cancer patients

Lili Hou, Fen Gu, Guanghui Gao, Caicun Zhou

Abstract

Background: To investigate the effect of percutaneous electrical stimulation on chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression in patients with lung cancer.
Methods: From December 2014 to August 2015, one hundred ninety-one non-small cell lung cancer patients with chemotherapy naive were randomly divided into control group, medication group, and transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) group. Patients with the control group received routine nursing care, the medication group was treated by oral administration of prophylactic agents, and TEAS group received electrical stimulation of acupoints including Dazhui (DU14), Geshu (BL17), Zusanli (ST36), Sanyinjiao (SP6), and Hegu (LI4). The primary end point was the blood routine indexes and secondary end point was the degree of comfort.
Results: The white blood cell in the TEAS group was significantly higher than the control group on day 8 and day 14 (P<0.05). The platelet count in the TEAS group was significantly higher than control group on day 5, day 8 and day 11 (P<0.05). The comfort score in the TEAS group was significantly higher than control group on day 8 (P<0.05).
Conclusions: Percutaneous electrical stimulation of acupoints could prevent chemotherapy-induced bone marrow suppression in lung cancer patients and ensure a smooth continuation of chemotherapy.

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