Acupuncture for joint symptoms related to aromatase inhibitor therapy in postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer: a narrative review

Acupuncture in Medicine : Journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society
Elizabeth J HalseyRachel C Stockley

Abstract

Aromatase inhibitor-induced musculoskeletal syndrome (AIMSS) leads to discontinuation of aromatase inhibitor therapy in a significant proportion of patients with breast cancer. Acupuncture is popular among cancer patients and has previously been shown to improve symptoms in a range of musculoskeletal complaints. To determine the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for the management of AIMSS in postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer. A literature search was carried out for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) on acupuncture for AIMSS in postmenopausal women with early-stage breast cancer. Characteristics of trials and outcomes were extracted from the retrieved articles, which were also assessed for risk of bias and quality of reporting. Four RCTs were retrieved of sample size 32-67 (totalling 190 participants). Compliance with treatment was high and rates of adverse events were low. Of the three two-arm RCTs, two found no difference between acupuncture and sham acupuncture and one found that acupuncture was statistically superior to sham acupuncture. The fourth RCT, which incorporated three arms, found acupuncture and sham acupuncture to be statistically superior to usual care but there was no difference between...Continue Reading

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Citations

Sep 11, 2016·Acupuncture in Medicine : Journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society·Yueh-Ling HsiehWei-Feng Chiu
Sep 24, 2016·Acupuncture in Medicine : Journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society·Byeongsang OhMichael Back

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