title: Pilot evaluation of Scrambler therapy for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), a common side effect of chemotherapy, needs better effective treatments. Preliminary data support the use of Scrambler therapy, a device which treats pain via noninvasive cutaneous electrostimulation, for the treatment of CIPN. The current manuscript reports data from a pilot trial, performed to investigate the effect of Scrambler therapy for the treatment of established CIPN.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible patients had CIPN symptoms of ≥1 month duration with tingling and/or pain ≥4/10 during the prior week. Patients were treated with Scrambler therapy to the affected area(s) for up to ten daily 30-min sessions. Symptoms were monitored using a neuropathy questionnaire consisting of numerical analog scales ranging from 0 to 10, daily before therapy as well as weekly for 10 weeks after therapy. Descriptive summary statistics formed the basis of data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-seven patients were enrolled. Twenty-five patients were treated primarily on their lower extremities while 12 were treated primarily on their upper extremities. There was a 53 % reduction in pain score from baseline to day 10; a 44 % reduction in tingling; and a 37 % reduction in numbness. Benefit appeared to last throughout 10 weeks of follow-up. There were no substantial adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preliminary data support that Scrambler therapy may be effective for the treatment of CIPN: a prospective placebo-controlled clinical trial should be performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street, SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Deirdre R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Pachman
authors.forename: Breanna L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Weisbrod
authors.forename: Drew K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Seisler
authors.forename: Debra L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: Kelliann C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Fee-Schroeder
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Daniel H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lachance
authors.forename: Heshan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Randy A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Shelerud
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Cheville
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Loprinzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents