Cryotherapy may prevent chemo-induced neuropathy

(HealthDay)—Cryotherapy may be useful for preventing symptoms of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), according to a study published online Oct. 12 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Akiko Hanai, O.T.R., from Kyoto University in Japan, and colleagues evaluated the efficacy of cryotherapy for CIPN prevention among 36 breast cancer patients treated weekly with paclitaxel (80mg/m² for one hour). Study participants wore frozen gloves and socks on the dominant side for 90 minutes, including the entire duration of drug infusion.

The incidence of objective and subjective CIPN signs was lower on the intervention side versus the control side. This held true for hand tactile sensitivity (odds ratio [OR], 20; 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 3.2 to 828.96; P < 0.001), foot tactile sensitivity (OR, infinite; 95 percent CI, 3.32 to infinite; P < 0.001), hand warm sense (OR, 9; 95 percent CI, 1.25 to 394.48; P = 0.02), foot warm sense (OR, 5; 95 percent CI, 1.07 to 46.93; P = 0.04), hand Patient Neuropathy Questionnaire (PNQ; OR, infinite; 95 percent CI, 3.32 to infinite; P < 0.001), and foot PNQ (OR, infinite; 95 percent CI, 2.78 to infinite; P < 0.001).

"Cryotherapy is useful for preventing both the objective and subjective symptoms of CIPN and resultant dysfunction," conclude the authors.