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Research Article| Volume 8, ISSUE 2, P121-130, June 2004

A multicentre study to determine the efficacy and patient acceptability of the Paxman Scalp Cooler to prevent hair loss in patients receiving chemotherapy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2003.10.006
A multicentre study to determine the efficacy and patient acceptability of the Paxman Scalp Cooler to prevent hair loss in patients receiving chemotherapy
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      Abstract

      Alopecia is a distressing and common side-effect of chemotherapy, especially anthracycline- and taxane-containing regimen. A series of studies and reviews have considered scalp cooling as a means of reducing this side-effect without a definitive result. The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy and patient acceptability of scalp cooling using the Paxman Scalp Cooler. This was an open, non-randomised, observational study conducted at eight sites involving 94 patients. Alopecia was assessed using the World Health Organisation (WHO) grading system. Patient acceptability was assessed by questionnaire. Results were compiled by Scalp Cooling Assessment Groups using data from eight centres in the UK collected between 1997 and 2000. Use of the Paxman Scalp Cooler was adjudged a success for 89% of all patients using the WHO grading system for alopecia and for 87% of patients being specifically administered the commonly used 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (FEC) regimen. When asked about degrees of comfort during the scalp-cooling process, 85% of patients described it as very comfortable, reasonably comfortable or comfortable, with only 15% of patients reporting a description of uncomfortable or very uncomfortable. Scalp cooling using the Paxman Scalp Cooler was found to be an effective technique with minimal side-effects for patients treated with commonly prescribed alopecia-inducing chemotherapy drugs.

      Zusammenfassung

      Krankhafter Haarausfall (Alopezie) ist eine weit verbreitete, den Patienten belastende Nebenwirkung von Chemotherapie, besonders wenn das Programm Anthrazykline und Taxane umfasst. Eine ganze Reihe von Untersuchungen und Kontrollstudien wurde bereits durchgeführt, die sich mit der Kühlung der Kopfhaut (scalp cooling) als Maßnahme befasst haben, diese Nebenwirkung zu reduzieren. Sie blieben ohne definitives Ergebnis.
      Das Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, den Einsatz speziell des Paxman Kopfhautkühlgeräts auf seine Wirksamkeit und Akzeptanz durch die Patienten zu untersuchen. Es handelte sich um eine offene, nicht randomisierte Beobachtung von 94 Patienten aus acht verschiedenen Gesundheitsinstitutionen. Haarausfall wurde dabei nach den Kriterien der Weltgesundheitsorganisation (WHO) definiert und bewertet, während der Grad der Akzeptanz des Gerätes durch die Patienten mit einem Fragebogen erfasst wurde. Die Daten von acht Gesundheitszentren im Vereinigten Königreich von Großbritannien und Nordirland, erhoben zwischen 1997 und 2000, wurden dann durch so genannte Scalp Cooling Assessment Groups zusammengestellt.
      Der Einsatz des Paxman Kopfhautkühlgerätes wurde nach den WHO-Bewertungskriterien für Alopezie für 89% aller Patienten als erfolgreich eingestuft. Dasselbe traf auf 87% der Patienten zu, die nach dem üblichen FEC-Therapieplan (5-Fluorourazil, Epirubizin, Zyklophosphamide) behandelt wurden. Auf die Frage nach der Verträglichkeit des Gerätes beim Kopfhautkühlungsvorgang beschrieben es 85% der Patienten als ‘sehr bequem’, ‘ziemlich bequem’ oder ‘bequem’, während nur 15% der Patienten die Aussage ‘unbequem’ oder ‘sehr unbequem’ trafen.
      Die Kühlung der Kopfhaut mit dem Paxman-Gerät wurde als wirksame Methode befunden, Patienten, die mit den üblicherweise verschriebenen und Haarausfall verursachenden chemotherapeutischen Mittel behandelt werden, mit nur minimalen Nebenwirkungen zu helfen.

      Keywords

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      Article info

      Publication history

      Accepted: October 24, 2003
      Received in revised form: September 3, 2003
      Received: March 14, 2003

      Identification

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2003.10.006

      Copyright

      © 2003 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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