Electrotherapy as treatment for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy - a randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Frontiers in neurology 2024-12, Vol.15, p.1451456
• Main Authors: Sassmann, Robert, Gampenrieder, Simon Peter, Rieder, Florian, Johansson, Tim, Rinnerthaler, Gabriel, Castagnaviz, Vanessa, Lampl, Kathrin, Herfert, Jürgen, Kienberger, Yvonne Theres, Flamm, Maria, Schaffler-Schaden, Dagmar, Greil, Richard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: high tone therapy; HTEMS; Neurology; QLQ-C30; QLQ-CIPN20; TENS
• ISSN: 1664-2295; 1664-2295
• DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1451456

Electrotherapy has been investigated in chronic pain and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, however prospective trials in patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) are scarce. Fifty-one patients with CIPN ≥ grade 1 subsequent to receiving platinum- and/or taxane-based chemotherapy types were randomized to 8 weeks of high tone external muscle stimulation (HTEMS) or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). The primary outcome were changes in the EORTC-QLQ-CIPN20 questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included clinical examinations, a classification of CIPN according to CTCAE v 4 and the EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaire. A control group (n = 17) receiving no intervention was recruited retrospectively. The EORTC-QLQ-CIPN20 sensory and motor scales improved in both intervention groups (TENS: -12.3pts and - 8.2pts; HTEMS: -14.7pts and - 8.2pts) with no significant changes in the control group -3.3pts; -2.8pts. The changes in the sensory scale differed significantly between the HTEMS and the control group. In the EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaire, there was a significant improvement for physical functioning in the HTEMS group only (+7.9pts) with no between group differences. CIPN classification according to CTCAE v4 improved significantly in both intervention groups. Home-based electrotherapy with HTEMS or TENS were successful in improving CIPN-related sensory impairment and could therefore provide a powerful treatment for this side-effect of chemotherapy. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03978585.