Two modes of acupuncture as a treatment for hot flushes in men with prostate cancer--a prospective multicenter study with long-term follow-up.
BACKGROUND
Hot flushes are common and distressing among men with castrational treatment for prostate cancer. Of the few treatments, most have side effects.


OBJECTIVE
Assess changes in hot flushes of electrostimulated (EA) and traditional acupuncture (TA).


METHODS
Thirty-one men with hot flushes due to prostate cancer treatment were recruited from three urological departments in Sweden, from 2001 to 2004.


METHODS
Thirty-one men were randomized to EA (12 needle points, with 4 electrostimulated) or TA (12 needle points) weekly for 12 wk.


METHODS



METHODS
number of and distress from hot flushes in 24 h and change in "hot flush score." Secondary outcome: change in 24-h urine excretion of CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide).


CONCLUSIONS
Twenty-nine men completed the treatment. Hot flushes per 24 h decreased significantly, from a median of 7.6 (interquartile range [IQR], 6.0-12.3) at baseline in the EA group to 4.1 (IQR, 2.0-6.5) (p=0.012) after 12 wk, and from 5.7 (IQR, 5.1-9.5) in the TA group to 3.4 (IQR1.8-6.3) (p=0.001). Distress by flushes decreased from 8.2 (IQR, 6.5-10.7) in the EA group to 3.3 (IQR, 0.3-8.1) (p=0.003), and from 7.6 (IQR, 4.7-8.3) to 3.4 (IQR, 2.0-5.6) (p=0.001) in the TA group after 12 wk, (78% and 73% reduction in "hot flush score," respectively). The effect lasted up to 9 mo after treatment ended. CGRP did not change significantly. Few, minor side effects were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
small number of patients; no placebo control, instead a small group controlled for 6 wk pretreatment.


CONCLUSIONS
EA and TA lowered number of and distress from hot flushes. The hot flush score decreased 78% and 73%, respectively, in line with or better than medical regimens for these symptoms. Acupuncture should be considered an alternative treatment for these symptoms, but further evaluation is needed, preferably with a non- or placebo-treated control group.
Frisk
Jessica
J
Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. jessica.frisk@imk.liu.se
Spetz
Anna-Clara
AC
Hjertberg
Hans
H
Petersson
Bill
B
Hammar
Mats
M
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors