Abstract

Background: Electrotherapy has been investigated in chronic pain and
diabetic peripheral neuropathy, however prospective trials in patients with
chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) are scarce.
Methods: 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 EORTCQLQ-C30 questionnaire. A control group (n = 17) receiving no intervention was
recruited retrospectively.
Results: 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.
Conclusion: 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.