Focus on Alternative and Complementary Therapies
www.pharmpress.com/fact
Focus Alternat Complement Ther©2005 Pharmaceutical Press
Focus Altern Complement Ther 2005; 10: 34
To determine the safety of leech therapy in osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee and to estimate how long its previously shown pain-relieving effects remain.
Structured postal questionnaire survey in all patients with knee OA who ever had received a leech therapy at an integrative clinic specialising in chronic pain syndromes. Non-responding patients were contacted personally. Patients who reported major adverse events were additionally interviewed by telephone.
Three hundred and five/392 patients (age 67.6 ± 9.8 years, 78.4% female, body mass index 28.7 ± 5.3) responded to the survey. 15.1% reported no pain relieving effect, 36.4% (13.8%) said the effect was maintained for more than 6 (12) months. 72.4% reported a reduction of analgesics, which was maintained in 32.8% for more than 12 months. Results on stiffness and physical function were similar to those of pain. Forty-eight patients (15.7%) reported minor to medium oozing > 24 h in the questionnaire, two patients required extra in-patient care without transfusion. Infections were stated by 11 patients (3.6%); three were verified and required antibiotic treatment. Minor complications were itching (31.5%), sensitivity of the skin (31.1%) and scars (7.5%).
A single leech therapy in knee OA has medium-term pain-relieving effects in most patients and allows the reduction of painkillers for several months. One in six patients do not profit from this treatment modality. Adverse events are frequent but most often of minor clinical relevance.
The study was funded by the Carstens Foundation, Essen, Germany.
