Women with breast cancer (BC) treated with aromatase inhibitors (AIs) may experience joint symptoms that can lead to discontinuation of effective therapy. We examined whether acupuncture improves AI−induced arthralgias in women with early−stage BC.

We conducted a randomized, controlled, blinded study comparing true acupuncture (TA) versus sham acupuncture (SA) twice weekly for 6 weeks in postmenopuasal women with BC who had self−reported musculoskeletal pain related to AIs. TA included full body/auricular acupuncture and joint−specific point prescriptions, whereas SA involved superficial needle insertion at nonacupoint locations. Outcome measures included the Brief Pain Inventory−Short Form (BPI−SF), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and Modified Score for the Assessment of Chronic Rheumatoid Affections of the Hands (M−SACRAH) obtained at baseline and at 3 and 6 weeks.

Of 51 women enrolled, 43 women were randomly assigned and 38 were evaluable. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. Our primary end point was the difference in mean BPI−SF worst pain scores at 6 weeks, which was lower for TA compared with SA (3.0 v 5.5; P < .001). We also found differences between TA and SA in pain severity (2.6 v 4.5; P = .003) and pain−related interference (2.5 v 4.5; P = .002) at 6 weeks. Similar findings were seen for the WOMAC and M−SACRAH scores. The acupuncture intervention was well−tolerated.

Women with AI−induced arthralgias treated with TA had significant improvement of joint pain and stiffness, which was not seen with SA. Acupuncture is an effective and well−tolerated strategy for managing this common treatment−related side effect.

PMID: 20100963 [PubMed − as supplied by publisher] Source: National Library of Medicine.