PURPOSE: Acupuncture is frequently used to manage the side effects associated with cancer therapy. In acupuncture practice, the presence of thrombocytopenia is a relative contraindication to acupuncture use among patients with cancer. However, the safety of acupuncture in patients with cancer treatment-related thrombocytopenia has not been previously investigated. METHODS: Medical records of 32 patients receiving acupuncture at an academic medical center with an established acupuncture program during treatment for cancer or during stem cell transplantation were reviewed. RESULTS: Of 237 acupuncture sessions, 20%, 8%, and 19% of the sessions were administered to patients with severe, moderate, and mild thrombocytopenia, respectively. No bleeding side effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective case series provides descriptive data on the safety of acupuncture using Japanese J-type Seirin needles, with mild manual stimulation administered at 0.5-cun depth in patients with cancer with and without thrombocytopenia. Prospective trials are needed to confirm these initial observations.
PURPOSE: Acupuncture is frequently used to manage the side effects associated with cancer therapy. In acupuncture practice, the presence of thrombocytopenia is a relative contraindication to acupuncture use among patients with cancer. However, the safety of acupuncture in patients with cancer treatment-related thrombocytopenia has not been previously investigated. METHODS: Medical records of 32 patients receiving acupuncture at an academic medical center with an established acupuncture program during treatment for cancer or during stem cell transplantation were reviewed. RESULTS: Of 237 acupuncture sessions, 20%, 8%, and 19% of the sessions were administered to patients with severe, moderate, and mild thrombocytopenia, respectively. No bleeding side effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: This retrospective case series provides descriptive data on the safety of acupuncture using Japanese J-type Seirin needles, with mild manual stimulation administered at 0.5-cun depth in patients with cancer with and without thrombocytopenia. Prospective trials are needed to confirm these initial observations.
Authors: C A Schiffer; K C Anderson; C L Bennett; S Bernstein; L S Elting; M Goldsmith; M Goldstein; H Hume; J J McCullough; R E McIntyre; B L Powell; J M Rainey; S D Rowley; P Rebulla; M B Troner; A H Wagnon Journal: J Clin Oncol Date: 2001-03-01 Impact factor: 44.544
Authors: S Gottschling; T K Reindl; S Meyer; J Berrang; G Henze; S Graeber; M F Ong; N Graf Journal: Klin Padiatr Date: 2008-10-23 Impact factor: 1.349
Authors: Andrea L Radossi; Katherine Taromina; Stacey Marjerrison; Caroline J Diorio; Raquel Similio; Festus Njuguna; Glenn M Afungchwi; Elena J Ladas Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2017-10-13 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Paul A Cybularz; Karen Brothers; Gurneet M Singh; Jennifer L Feingold; Mark E Lewis; Michelle L Niesley Journal: Med Acupunct Date: 2015-06-01