Objective

2

To compare the clinical effect of intradermal needling and acupuncture in prevention and treatment of leukopenia after chemotherapy with spleen-kidney deficiency.

Methods

2

A total of 90 patients with malignant tumor who received chemotherapy were randomly divided into a intradermal needling group (30 cases

1 case dropped out)

an acupuncture group (30 cases

2 cases dropped out

1 case was eliminated) and a control group (30 cases). The control group received conventional symptomatic treatment after chemotherapy. On the basis of the treatment in the control group

the intradermal needling group received intradermal needling at Guanyuan (CV 4)

Dazhui (GV 14) and bilateral Geshu (BL 17)

Zusanli (ST 36)

Shenshu (BL 23)

the needles were retained for 48 h

once every other day. On the basis of the treatment in the control group

the acupuncture group received conventional acupuncture at the same acupoints as the intradermal needling group

once every other day. The treatment started from the first day of chemotherapy

for a total of 2 weeks in the three groups. The white blood cell count

neutrophil count

hemoglobin content

platelet count and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score before treatment and on 3rd

7th

14th

and 21st days after treatment were compared among the three groups. The incidence and grading of leukopenia and the usage of leukocyte-boosting drug during chemotherapy cycle was recorded.

Results

2

On 7th day after treatment

the white blood cell count in the intradermal needling group and the acupuncture group was higher than that in the control group (

P

<

0.01

P

<

0.05). On the 14th day after treatment

the hemoglobin content in the intradermal needling group and the acupuncture group was higher than that in the control group (

P

<

0.01). On the 7th

14th

and 21st days after treatment

the platelet count in the acupuncture group was higher than that in the control group (

P

<

0.01)

on the 14th and 21st days after treatment

the platelet count in the intradermal needling group was higher than that in the control group (

P

<

0.01). There was no statistic

ally significant difference among the three groups after treatment in terms of neutrophil count

KPS score

incidence and grading of leukopenia

and the usage of leukocyte-boosting drug (

P

>

0.05).

Conclusion

2

Both intradermal needling and acupuncture can effectively increase peripheral blood white blood cell count

hemoglobin content and platelet count during chemotherapy cycle

reduce the toxicity of chemotherapy drug to bone marrow hematopoietic function

and alleviate bone marrow suppression after chemotherapy. The two treatments are equally effective.