title: Acupuncture treatment for persistent hiccups in patients with cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of acupuncture treatment for persistent hiccups in cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study design was a retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study setting was the Clinical Research Center of the National Institutes of Health.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 16 adult male patients ages 27-71 with cancer, with persistent hiccups.
  
  
  METHODS
  There were one to three acupuncture sessions over a 1-7-day period.
  
  
  METHODS
  Treatment efficacy was measured using a hiccup assessment instrument pre- and post-treatment. The effects of acupuncture on common symptoms reported by all patients were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen (13) patients experienced complete remission of persistent hiccups (p < 0.0001); 3 patients experienced decreased hiccups severity. Significant improvement was observed in discomfort (p < 0.0001), distress (p < 0.0001), and fatigue (p = 0.0078).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case series demonstrates that acupuncture may be a clinically useful, safe, and low-cost therapy for persistent hiccups in patients with cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Intramural Research, National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. age@mail.nih.gov
authors.forename: Adeline X Y
authors.initials: AX
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giaccone
authors.forename: Marybeth S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Steven Z
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Pavletic
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006606:Hiccup / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome