OBJECTIVETo observe therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with antiemetic on cisplatin-induced nausea and vomiting.

METHODSBy using paired, cross-controlled trial design, 66 cases of chemotherapy were divided into group A and B, 33 cases in each group. For the group A, chemotherapy, tropisetron and acupuncture therapy were adopted in the first chemotherapy cycle and the same chemotherapy program, tropisetron and sham acupuncture were used in the next cycle. For the group B, chemotherapy, tropisetron and sham acupuncture were given in the first chemotherapy cycle and the same chemotherapy program, tropisetron and acupuncture therapy were applied in the next cycle. Zusanli (ST 36), Neiguan (PC 6) and Gongsun (SP 4) and auricular point Wei (stomach) were selected for acupuncture therapy, and the points at 3 cm lateral to Zusanli (ST 36) , Neiguan (PC 6) and Gongaun (SP 4) and auricular point corresponding to scapha level were selected for sham acupuncture. Acupuncture treatment or sham-acupuncture was given for 6 consecutive days, once each day and antiemetic tropisetron 5 mg was given to the two groups as basic antiemetic prophylaxis for 6 days, once daily. The therapeutic effects on nausea and vomiting in the 6 days were compared between the acupuncture group and the sham-acupuncture group in the two chemotherapeutic cycles.

RESULTSThe effective rates for nausea in the 2nd day and the 4th day were 87.1% and 79.0% in acupuncture group, which were superior to 59.4% and 57.8% in the sham-acupuncture group, respectively (both P < 0.05); and the therapeutic effects on vomiting in the 3rd-6th day in the acupuncture group were better than those in the sham-acupuncture group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture combined with antiemetic can effectively decrease the incidence and degree of cisplatin-induced delayed nausea and vomiting. The effect of acupuncture is better than that of sham acupuncture.