Efective adjuvant treatment of neuropathic pain in peripheral neuropathy by acupuncture

摘要

Alternative treatment strategies for neuropathic pain (NP) in periphereal neuropathy (PN) are desirable, because available drug treatment can produce side effects in a notable number of patients. 192 Patients with PN were retrospectively evaluated over a period of one year. 38 of them suffered from NP. One month before and during observation period medical drugs had to be on a stable basis. 21 patients got 10 adjuvant acupuncture treatments on a weekly basis, while 17 got no additional therapy. 17 patients (81%) in the acupuncture group improved as measured by nerve conduction studies (NCS), 3 showed no change (14%) and one an aggravation (5%), while 5 patients in the control group (29%) improved, 4 showed no change (24%) and 8 patients showed an aggravation (47%) in NCS (X2=13.8, df=2, p=0.001). The data suggest that acupuncture offers an additional option for the treatment of NP in PN. Improvement of NCS is considered to be signs of neural regeneration, so acupuncture might induce a long term therapeutic effect on NP in PN without side effects. Further randomized controlled trials are necessary.