Acupuncture for chronic pain in adults with sickle cell disease: a mixed-methods pilot study

Objective: Chronic pain is a common symptom experienced among patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). Our aims were to assess the feasibility and acceptability of performing acupuncture for the treatment of chronic pain in adults with SCD. Methods: This was a single-arm, prospective pilot study of six adults with SCD. Participants reported ⩾ 3 months of chronic pain and were > 18 years of age. Per protocol, acupuncture was to be administered twice per week for 5 weeks, for 30 min per session. All treatments were performed in the acupuncture treatment laboratory at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing. Pain intensity, pain interference, and other symptoms were measured at baseline and after the intervention. Participants completed a semi-structured interview and a protocol acceptability questionnaire after the acupuncture intervention. Results: Six participants (mean age 52.5 years, six Black) were enrolled. Although the study was suspended due to COVID-19 and not all participants completed the 10-session protocol, completion rates were high with no missed appointments. One participant did not complete the study due to hospitalization unrelated to acupuncture. No adverse events were reported. At completion of the intervention at 4–5 weeks post-baseline, all participants had reduced pain intensity and pain interference. The mean acceptability score on the protocol acceptability questionnaire was 82%. Conclusion: It was feasible and acceptable to implement acupuncture in adults with SCD. This study can be used to guide a larger randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of acupuncture on reducing chronic pain in adults with SCD. Trial registration number: NCT04156399 (ClinicalTrials.gov)

Download Full-text

High dose vitamin D therapy for chronic pain in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease: results of a randomized double blind pilot study

British Journal of Haematology ◽

10.1111/bjh.12019 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 159 (2) ◽

pp. 211-215 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Ifeyinwa Osunkwo ◽

Thomas R. Ziegler ◽

Jessica Alvarez ◽

Courtney McCracken ◽

Korin Cherry ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D ◽

Chronic Pain ◽

Pilot Study ◽

Sickle Cell Disease ◽

Children And Adolescents ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

High Dose ◽

Cell Disease ◽

Double Blind ◽

High Dose Vitamin

Download Full-text

Prevalence and predictors of chronic pain intensity and disability among adults with sickle cell disease

Health Psychology Open ◽

10.1177/2055102920917250 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 205510292091725

Author(s):

Nadine Matthie ◽

Coretta Jenerette ◽

Ashley Gibson ◽

Sudeshna Paul ◽

Melinda Higgins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Pain ◽

Sickle Cell Disease ◽

Pain Intensity ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

Pain Catastrophizing ◽

Psychosocial Health ◽

Cell Disease ◽

Disability Prevalence ◽

And Gender ◽

High Level

Among 170 adults with sickle cell disease, we evaluated chronic pain impact and disability prevalence, assessed age and gender differences, and identified psychosocial predictors of chronic pain intensity and disability. Most participants had a high level of disability. Chronic pain intensity and disability were significantly associated with pain catastrophizing and chronic pain self-efficacy, and worsened with age. Further research is needed to confirm study findings and develop interventions, including palliative care approaches that address catastrophizing and disability, particularly for young women and middle-aged adults with sickle cell disease. Moreover, consistent clinical assessment of chronic pain and psychosocial health should be implemented.

Download Full-text

RheothRx (Poloxamer 188) Injection for the Acute Painful Episode of Sickle Cell Disease: A Pilot Study

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v90.5.2041 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 90 (5) ◽

pp. 2041-2046 ◽

Cited By ~ 70

Author(s):

Patricia Adams-Graves ◽

Amos Kedar ◽

Mabel Koshy ◽

Martin Steinberg ◽

Robert Veith ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Sickle Cell Disease ◽

Pain Intensity ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

Study Drug ◽

Cell Disease ◽

Drug Infusion ◽

Double Blind ◽

Poloxamer 188 ◽

Painful Episode

Abstract RheothRx (Glaxo Wellcome Inc, Research Triangle Park, NC; poloxamer 188) Injection is a nonionic surfactant with hemorrheologic properties that suggest it may be useful in treating acute painful episodes (vasoocclusive crises) of sickle cell disease (SCD). We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of poloxamer, formulated as RheothRx Injection, in 50 patients with SCD. Patients with moderate to severe painful episodes requiring parenteral analgesics were randomized to receive a 48-hour infusion of either RheothRx or placebo. Pain was assessed every 4 hours. Efficacy endpoints included: (1) painful episode duration, (2) days of hospitalization, (3) quantity of analgesics used, and (4) pain intensity scores. Three subgroups of patients were considered for efficacy analyses based on the actual duration of the study drug infusion and the completeness of pain score data collection. Compared with placebo and depending on the subgroup, RheothRx-treated patients showed a 16% to 45% decrease in duration of painful episodes, a 1- to 2-day reduction in hospital stay, a threefold to fivefold reduction in analgesic requirements, and a 1-point reduction (using a 5-point scale) in average pain intensity scores at 72 hours. RheothRx was well tolerated; no clinically significant differences were observed between treatments with respect to adverse experiences or other safety measures. In addition, there were no differences between treatment groups in the incidence of recurrent painful episodes. In this study, RheothRx significantly reduced total analgesic use and pain intensity and showed trends to shorter duration of painful episodes and total days of hospitalization. In patients with moderate to severe vasoocclusive pain, RheothRx was safe and may offer a therapeutic benefit.

Download Full-text